Cianbro Heavy-Duty Vacuum Implementation Case Study

This case study details the implementation of a heavy-duty vacuum system at Cianbro's fabrication and coating facility in Georgetown, Massachusetts. The facility faced challenges with manual handling of steel shot from an auger system connected to a blast machine, which posed ergonomic hazards and led to downtime. To address these issues, Cianbro acquired a 15-hp Vac-U-Max 1020MFG vacuum designed for high-volume recovery of heavy materials. The vacuum has significantly improved safety by reducing manual handling and has increased productivity by cutting the labor required for maintenance tasks by over 50 percent. The facility has also expanded the vacuum's use for cleaning other areas, such as the paint bay, leading to a cleaner work environment. The implementation of the vacuum has resulted in an 80 percent reduction in unscheduled downtime, enhancing overall operational efficiency and equipment longevity.