Safe Aerosol Production. ATEX Directive and Ex Zones
#atex #solmatic
Aerosol production must not take place without ensuring the safety of both the process and the personnel. Operating in explosion hazard zones, aerosol manufacturers face a significant challenge: ensuring the safety of their employees and customers.
As a manufacturer of, among other things, aerosol filling machines, we are fully aware of the challenges our clients face. These are manufacturing companies from a wide range of industries – from cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to the food sector. While each of these sectors has its own specific production requirements, they all share one key objective: ensuring that work is carried out in safe and controlled conditions. In such a technologically complex process, there is no room for randomness or risk.
What Are Ex Zones and the ATEX Directive?
A discussion about safe aerosol production is incomplete without addressing the topic of Ex zones and the ATEX directive. So let us begin by answering the question: What are Ex zones and what does the ATEX directive define?
The ATEX Directive (from the French ATmosphères EXplosibles – explosive atmospheres) is a European Union directive that lays out the essential requirements for operating equipment in Ex zones, i.e., areas with explosion risk. ATEX is divided into two core directives: ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU and Directive 1999/92/EC.
The ATEX Directive requires CE marking, which means every device intended for use in an Ex zone must undergo conformity assessment procedures in line with the Machinery Directive and be marked with the CE symbol. These regulations aim to increase safety by preventing explosions, and consequently, protect people, the environment, and property.
Ex Zones – Classification
Each Ex zone (i.e., an area with explosive atmosphere risk) is defined by how frequently or how long the explosive atmosphere (a mix of flammable substances in the form of gases, mists, vapors, or dust combined with air) may occur or persist.
The current classification is as follows:
- Zone 0 – An explosive atmosphere is present continuously or for more than 1,000 hours per year
- Zone 1 – An explosive atmosphere is likely to occur between 10 and 1,000 hours per year
- Zone 2 – An explosive atmosphere occurs rarely, and for less than 10 hours per year
Safe Aerosol Production
Safety starts with awareness of the hazards that are present – or may be present – in the production facility. When working with flammable gases, aerosol manufacturers cannot afford to rely on unverified technologies.
To ensure our clients achieve the highest production standards and safety – both for their teams and for their end customers (since the internal pressure of a sealed can reaches 6 to 10 bar) – we offer proven and safe equipment for aerosol production, designed to operate in Ex zones and fully compliant with the ATEX directive.
Solmatic offers complete production lines as well as individual aerosol production machines, including Bag-On-Valve (BOV) technology. We manufacture both semi-automatic machines (up to 20 units/min – fillers, crimpers, gas fillers, and pumps) and fully automatic machines (40–120 units/min – fillers and gas fillers, sorters, receiving tables, cappers, elevators, checkweighers, leak testers, Gas House units, feeding tables, and conveyors). We also supply measuring and laboratory instruments.
Looking for ATEX-compliant solutions for your business? Don’t take risks – trust the experts at Solmatic.
Contact our team to select the best equipment for your production:
📧 sales@solmatic.pl | 📞 +48 32 307 07 41
Solmatic sp. z o. o.
Stanisława Lema 38
43-600, Jaworzno, Poland
GPS: 50.2200329,19.2116195
VAT: 536-178 98-62
KRS: 0000914863
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