AL-KO Dust Extraction Raising the Standard
Forward-thinking UK joinery and furniture manufacturers know that dust extraction is no longer just about meeting safety requirements. It’s an opportunity to protect staff wellbeing, cut rising energy costs, meet sustainability commitments and support long-term growth.
That’s why AL-KO has set the benchmark — with compliance designed in from the start, delivering ultra-high filtration rates, stable workshop temperatures, lower energy use, and advanced safety features that maximise efficiency for even the most demanding operations.
Future-Proofing Your Business With Smarter Extraction
“Dust extraction is no longer just about solving an immediate problem. Every investment should be about future-proofing your business,” explains Matt Pearce, MD of TM Machinery – the exclusive supplier of AL-KO dust extraction units in the UK. “The AL-KO range fits straight into production — simple to install, easy to move, smarter to run and engineered for efficiency. If anyone is making dust extraction sound complicated in 2025, they’re blowing more hot air than clean air.”
Filtration That Exceeds Global Standards
With health and safety a priority for every business, the AL-KO Power Unit range delivers top-level filtration and integrated monitoring. The air returned to the workshop is up to 50 times cleaner than current UK exposure limits of 3 mg/m³ for mixed wood. Across Europe, several countries already set limits below the EU minimum requirement. France and Denmark cap exposure at 1 mg/m³, while in the Netherlands a health-based limit of 0.2 mg/m³ has been proposed. It’s not if UK regulations will tighten, but when. AL-KO already achieves as low as 0.1 mg/m³ – giving manufacturers safe workshops today and confidence for tomorrow.
Advanced Built-In Safety Features
But safety doesn’t stop with clean air. Models from 250 upwards include thermal sensors and an integrated fire extinguishing system, while optional fill-level sensors maintain airflow and reduce risk. “These aren’t expensive add-ons — they’re protections built into the design,” adds Matt. “That makes a big difference when you’re comparing lifetime costs.”
Reducing Energy Costs and Carbon Footprint
Dust extraction can account for up to 40% of electricity use in furniture manufacturing — making it one of the biggest drivers of operating costs and carbon footprint. With efficiency now central to competitiveness and sustainability, the right system is a strategic investment.
The AL-KO Power Unit range builds efficiency in from the start. Optimised fan housings and IE3/IE4 motors cut power demand, pre-separation reduces filter strain, and the patented Opti Jet® system keeps filters clear with short bursts of compressed air. Integrated frequency inverters ensure the fan only produces the airflow required.
Stable Workshop Temperatures All Year Round
That efficiency goes further. Unlike vented systems, AL-KO recirculates filtered air back into the workshop. Heat stays in during winter, hot air is kept out in summer. The result: stable temperatures, consistent extraction and lower energy demand all year round. For manufacturers, that means more than cutting today’s energy bills – it extends system life, reduces waste, and builds sustainability into the return on investment.
Compact Power for Small Workshops
High-performance dust extraction isn’t just for large factories. The new AL-KO Power Vac series replaces multiple bench vacuums with a single compact unit that supports up to 14 hand tools and even small CNC machines.
With vacuum power up to 10,000 Pa – more than three times that of standard systems – and noise levels as low as 74 dB(A), it saves space, cuts energy use, and brings AL-KO’s patented technology and efficiency to smaller workshops, colleges and training facilities
The result is a mobile system that delivers the performance and reliability normally associated with much larger installations.
Plug-and-Play Flexibility for Growing Workshops
Future-proofing isn’t only about compliance, efficiency and sustainability – it’s about agility. The AL-KO Power Unit range is a true plug-and-play solution. Compact in footprint yet powerful enough for large-scale operations, each unit can be positioned where it’s needed most, added to, or relocated as production needs evolve.
That flexibility protects investment, giving businesses the freedom to adapt, expand or reconfigure without the cost and disruption of redesigning fixed ducted systems.
“Dust extraction shouldn’t limit your workshop. With AL-KO, you get systems that adapt as you grow – that’s real investment protection,” says Matt. “Clean air isn’t just compliance – it’s a strategy for safer, more sustainable growth.”
Contact TM Machinery for More Information
Ready to transform your woodworking operation? Talk to TM and discover how the automation within Striebig’s range of vertical panel saws can help streamline production and increase your business’s potential.
