Introducing the GEMCO Brush Guard: Protecting Your Process, Protecting Your People
In powder processing environments—especially those involving hazardous or sensitive materials—small design gaps can lead to significant risks. Whether it’s preventing contamination, protecting operators, or ensuring reliable operation, every component in your equipment matters.
At GEMCO, we listen closely to our customers. Often, defense industries working with explosives, propellants and ammunition have much higher risk and require different safety solutions. So when a propellant manufacturer pointed out a critical vulnerability in the traditional gear guard assembly, we engineered a solution: the GEMCO Brush Guard.
A Small Component with a Big Impact
The Brush Guard is a compact, purpose-built safeguard designed to seal the narrow opening where the blender shaft passes through the gear guard enclosure. This area—though necessary for mechanical function—can allow fine gear dust to escape or contaminants to enter, especially in environments with airborne particles or explosive materials.
The Brush Guard solves this problem with a dense bristle ring mounted in a proprietary holder that gently contacts the blender shaft. This creates a continuous physical barrier without affecting shaft performance, gear alignment, or rotational movement. The result is a cleaner, safer, and more controlled workspace.
The Challenge: A Necessary Gap, an Unnecessary Risk
GEMCO blenders utilize high-precision spur gears and robust stainless steel gear guards to ensure long-term durability and performance. However, the design must allow the shaft to pass through the guard—leaving a gap that, in certain industries, can pose serious concerns.
In high-risk applications such as propellant blending, ammunition manufacturing, or energetic material handling, even the smallest release of metal dust or the intrusion of fine particles can have catastrophic consequences. Static discharge, equipment wear, or contamination from foreign debris are not just productivity issues—they’re safety hazards
In dust-prone or abrasive production environments, an unsealed gap in the gear guard can allow contaminants or product to enter the gear assembly, which significantly decreases backlash. The unfortunate side effect of this is potential gear misalignment—leading to premature wear, excessive vibration, and increased noise.
Our Solution: The GEMCO Brush Guard
GEMCO’s Brush Guard directly addresses this challenge by sealing the vulnerable opening without compromising performance. Its key benefits include:
✔ Enhanced Safety: Prevents gear dust from escaping into hazardous environments, reducing ignition and exposure risks.
✔ Contamination Control: Blocks external particles from entering the gear guard, helping to protect internal components and maintain product purity.
✔ Seamless Integration: Designed specifically for GEMCO gear guards, making installation quick and non-disruptive to operations.
✔ Long-Term Performance: Engineered to withstand continuous contact and rotation while maintaining an effective seal over time.
Why It Matters in Hazardous Areas
In facilities that handle energetic powders or explosive materials, the margin for error is razor-thin. Equipment must meet stringent regulatory standards—but more importantly, it must protect the people working with it.
The Brush Guard adds a new layer of defense to GEMCO’s already robust tumble blending and vacuum drying systems. It’s a simple addition that helps prevent dangerous dust migration and improves the overall cleanliness of your workspace. The GEMCO Brush Guard is not only available for new clients, but also retrofittable for existing units in the field.
Driven by Your Needs, Built by GEMCO
Like many of our innovations, the Brush Guard began as a direct response to a customer challenge. Our team took their concern seriously—and developed a solution that is now available to all GEMCO customers.
At GEMCO, we believe that listening is the first step toward innovation. Whether it’s through designing new safety features or upgrading legacy equipment, we’re committed to helping you protect your process and your people.
Conclusion
In powder processing, what may seem like a minor design detail can make a major difference. The GEMCO Brush Guard closes a small but critical gap—one that could otherwise compromise safety, cleanliness, and performance. GEMCO Brush Guard is retrofittable on pre existing and existing design making it useful for all customers.
The GEMCO Brush Guard: Engineered for Safety. Built for Confidence. Inspired by You.
Contact GEMCO for more information or schedule a FREE consultation with our experts to see if the GEMCO Brush Guard is right for your process.
📧 sales@okgemco.com
🔧 parts@okgemco.com
📞 (732) 752 – 7900
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