Sanwa Construction and FUJIOH Co-develop "Built-in Oil Collector" to Mitigate Oil Smoke and Duct Fire Risks in Food Factories

Sanwa Construction Co., Ltd. has long been involved in the design and construction of food factories under its "FACTAS" brand. A persistent concern for both clients and the company has been the deterioration of indoor environments and associated hazards caused by "oil smoke" generated from production lines. To fundamentally solve this, Sanwa Construction and Fuji Industrial Co., Ltd. (FUJIOH) have co-developed the "Built-in Oil Collector." Oil smoke refers to oil-laden smoke generated during cooking that affects factory equipment and environments. When this smoke spreads, it sticks to walls and ceilings, making daily cleaning difficult and promoting bacterial growth. In modern food factories, "positive pressure management" is common, but it often backfires regarding oil smoke, as oil-laden air is pushed into adjacent rooms, damaging building materials and causing fatal failures in expensive production equipment. A secondary disaster caused by oil accumulation is "duct fire." These fires occur when oil and dust inside exhaust ducts ignite. Because ducts are hidden, fires can spread unnoticed, leading to major disasters. Although "fire dampers" are installed to prevent fire spread, they often fail to operate due to accumulated oil. The "Built-in Oil Collector" utilizes FUJIOH's patented "Oil Smasher" technology, originally used in household range hoods, adapted for high-volume industrial use (3000㎥/h). The device physically separates oil and air using a disk rotating at 1500 RPM, preventing oil from entering the ducts. It is easy to maintain, as the disk can be washed with water, reducing cleaning time by more than half in field tests. It achieved oil collection rates of approximately 94.9% in a deli factory and 92.6% in a confectionery factory. The product will be exhibited at FOOMA JAPAN 2026, held at Tokyo Big Sight from June 2 to 5, 2026.