Industrial Noise Solutions – Machine Vibration Isolation

Specialized machinery and equipment utilized in industrial environments often endure inadvertent abuse caused by environmental vibrations. A piece of machinery may produce vibrations that affect its own stability, or may be affected by vibrations transferred from other equipment. Regardless of the source, persistent vibration can have a negative effect on machine performance and create a noisy and distracting environment for personnel. Isolating machinery that is either the recipient or the source of vibration can provide benefits to both the equipment itself and its operators.

Isolating machinery such that it has no direct contact with the floor, walls or ceiling can minimize the vibrations that are transmitted, thus resulting in improved equipment performance and a quieter work environment for everyone in the vicinity. Being exposed to continuous vibration may not only affect a machine’s present performance, but could result in unnecessary downtime and a decreased useful life of the equipment. In a time when production downtime almost always equates to lost profits, keeping both machinery and personnel operating to their full potential is an important contribution to business success.

Machine isolation treatments may be applied to the machinery that is the source of vibration, or to equipment that is sensitive to the vibrations caused by the source. Methods used to effectively isolate machinery vary according to the structural foundation of the equipment and the extent of treatment needed. Isolation mounts are treatments designed to establish a contact separation between the floor and a piece of free standing equipment, thus preventing vibrations from transferring to the floor and traveling throughout other areas of the facility. In other cases, machinery design demands that it be secured soundly to a floor, wall or foundation to ensure proper functionality and rigidity. Shock and isolation pads designed for such a circumstance can be installed to serve as a partition between the equipment producing the vibration and the surface to which it is affixed. Isolating some kinds of equipment involves the construction of a foundation which secures the equipment and incorporates technologies designed to prevent structure-borne noise and vibrations from traveling throughout the work environment.

Vibrations from a piece of industrial equipment can be not only a nuisance to employees, but can also lead to future machine problems or failure. Implementing a customized vibration control treatment is a simple and affordable venture that can improve equipment operation while contributing to a more pleasant, safe workplace and improved employee satisfaction. It is advised to consult with an experienced supplier of soundproofing and vibration isolation products prior to implementing a treatment in order to ensure that all factors relevant to the project are considered.

About the Author: Mark Rustad is President of NetWell Noise Control, based in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1991, NetWell is a leading supplier of acoustic products, sound reduction treatments, and online acoustical consulting services. NetWell’s sound management skills are packaged into the industry’s premier website. Discover first hand why so much of NetWell’s business stems from the referrals and repeat orders they receive from satisfied clients around the world.