Zipper Duct \ Linear Dust Extraction for Moving Equipment
When a machine moves along a track and produces dust, fume, or scrap, standard flex hose and jointed pipe cannot maintain reliable extraction across the full travel range. Environmental Pneumatics designs and fabricates zipper duct to match your equipment’s stroke length, material characteristics, and connection geometry so dust capture remains consistent from one end of travel to the other.
Key Highlights:
- Custom-fabricated in any length to match your machine’s full travel range
- Rubber-sealed slot allows the extraction slider to move freely without air loss
- Handles CFM requirements from 400 to 4,000 depending on material and application
How Does Zipper Duct Maintain Dust Extraction Across the Full Range of Machine Travel?
Flex hose is limited in both travel distance and abrasion resistance. As the machine moves, flex hose stretches, kinks, or wears through, reducing capture velocity and allowing dust to escape into the work area. Zipper duct replaces that variable with a fixed trough duct and a slider fitting that tracks with the machine through flex hose, maintaining consistent airflow from any position along the run.
- Modular bolted sections build to any run length required by your equipment
- Internal slider rides the trough and connects to machinery via flex hose
- PVC anti-static seal option available where static charge is a concern
Why Does Environmental Pneumatics Fabricate Zipper Duct Instead of Sourcing It Off the Shelf?
Zipper duct dimensions, seal material, slider configuration, and section length are all determined by the machine geometry, travel speed, material type, and airflow requirement of the specific application. Environmental Pneumatics manufactures zipper duct at its Oakland, Tennessee facility and operates a dedicated product line supplying zipper duct to industrial facilities across the region.
- Fabricated to your machine’s actual stroke length with no standard-size compromise
- Seal and slider materials matched to your particulate type and operating environment
- Memphis-area fabrication team integrates zipper duct with your existing collection system
Start With a Site Evaluation
Most dust and scrap problems are visible to a trained eye. The issue is that most vendors never bother to look — they quote from a desk and ship a catalog product.
Our engineers come to you. Walk the floor with you. And tell you exactly what they see.
- On-site visit at your facility
- Dust source, airflow & scrap recovery gap analysis
- Compliance exposure review (OSHA / NFPA / EPA)
- Written summary of findings — no obligation
Schedule Your Walkthrough
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of machinery is zipper duct used with?
Zipper duct is used with any machine that travels a linear path while generating dust, fumes, or scrap, including saws, routers, cutting tables, shears, and other sliding or traversing equipment.
When is zipper duct a better choice than flex hose?
When the machine’s travel distance exceeds the practical reach of flex hose, or when the material being conveyed is abrasive enough to wear through flex hose quickly.
Can zipper duct be made in custom lengths?
Yes. Zipper duct is fabricated in bolted sections to match your exact travel range, with no standard length restriction.
What airflow range does zipper duct support?
Zipper duct systems are designed for airflow requirements from 400 to 4,000 CFM depending on the material type and the capacity of the connected dust collector.