|
Among the almost limitless range of products EMW can custom fabricate are dampers, and we have proven expertise in the fabrication of aluminum dampers (as well as stainless steel, mild steel and galvanized) for a range of industries, including the petrochemical, construction and power generation industries. This page is about our aluminum dampers.
Why Aluminum Dampers?
The major advantages of fabricating your damper from aluminum are aluminum’s low cost and ease of maintenance. Aluminum dampers will be light and durable and yet with aluminum’s high strength to weight ratio they will still offer sufficient strength for many applications. On average, aluminum dampers will be lighter by as much as two thirds compared to a counterpart in steel or stainless steel.
Aluminum dampers will not rust.
Aluminum dampers are, however, less strong than steel dampers and so might not be selected for some heavy-duty applications. In high temperatures, aluminum expands twice as much as steel and this may be also be a factor in deciding which material should be used for your dampers depending on your particular application.
EMW is a full service metal fabricator offering a wide range of capabilities in the fabrication of aluminum dampers and other products. These capabilities include:
- Rolling up to 1/8" x 5' long
- CNC punching up to 3/8" plate
- CNC precision shearing up to 12ft. in 1/4" carbon steel, 316 stainless and 3/8" aluminum
- CAD/CAM Design & Programming (Teksoft CAD/CAM programming & draft software)
- 12 ft. press brakes up to 1/4" plate with CNC back gauging
- Band saw, torch and plasma cutting
- Mig and Tig welding all alloys
- Spot welding up to 3/4" total thickness
- Light structural fabricating
We have finishing options (powder coat or wet paint) available when needed. Although we are not paint experts by trade or claim to be, we do offer coating/application services through outside sources. All coating will be at the customer's request and specification. In order that the customer receives the proper coating for their exact application all specifications must come from and be approved by the customer prior to coating. EMW does not make coating recommendations for any application. Essentially, you tell us the kind of coating or finish you need or prefer and we will make sure that coating or finish is applied properly.
Aluminum alloys used by EMW include the 3000 series (Al-Mn, on the softer side and with good corrosion resistance), the 5000 series (Al-Mg, higher strength) and the 6000 series (Al-Mg-Si, heat treatable with good properties of both strength and corrosion resistance).
Types of Aluminum Dampers
Diversification and custom fabrication constitute our regular modus operandi here at EMW, so the following list is merely a summary of some of the standard types of damper we can produce in aluminum:
- Backdraft Aluminum Dampers: Backdraft aluminum dampers only permit air to flow in one direction in a duct or airway. They are commonly used to prevent outside air from entering a building through an exhaust duct. For more info on Aluminum Backdraft Dampers, click here.
- Manually Operated Aluminum Dampers: Manually operated aluminum dampers are simply dampers, which are set by hand, as by the operation of a handle that sits outside the duct that the damper controls. For more info on Aluminum Manually Operated Dampers, click here.
- Motorized Aluminum Dampers: In motorized aluminum dampers, the plates or flaps, which control, block or allow the draft or airflow are actuated by motors. These motors are often linked to thermostats, for instance in zone controlled air conditioning systems. For more info on Aluminum Motorized Dampers, click here.
- Opposed Blade Aluminum Dampers: Opposed blade aluminum dampers are an alternative to the standard parallel blade damper configuration. Airflow characteristics are different when an opposed blade damper is fully open, versus an open parallel blade damper, and these differences can be significant in certain applications. For more info on Aluminum Opposed Blade Dampers, click here.
- Heavy Duty Aluminum Dampers: Heavy-duty aluminum dampers are similar to standard duty dampers except they are formed with special reinforcement to provide greater rigidity and strength. They may be needed for applications where especially high airflow velocities are involved. Aluminum may not be recommended as the metal of choice in this case depending on the specifics of the application. For more info on Aluminum Heavy Duty Dampers, click here.
Aluminum Dampers Formed to Fit Your Requirements
Our dampers are created through a metal forming process (not through a metal extrusion process), which gives us the flexibility required to fabricate a unique aluminum damper product that fits the requirements of each customer’s application. EMW’s metal forming process also allows for the fabrication of a damper that meets close tolerances.
To see an example of our ability to rise to an occasion and provide a custom damper product perfectly formed to fit a demanding application, Click Here and scroll down to see and read about the heavy storm dampers EMW fabricated for the cooling towers at the Cherokee Data Center in Oklahoma.
Whether you have CAD drawings ready or just verbal instructions to provide, you can be confident that EMW has the experience, know-how and determination to follow-through on your project and fabricate a custom damper that will fit your application.
Feel free to use our RFQ form or contact EMW using the information below. We will be very glad to assist you.
To view our louvers and dampers photo gallery
|
