How Centrifugal Fans Support Packaging Industries
Published on 16 Oct 2025
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Packaging facilities are fast-paced environments under constant pressure to deliver quality and speed. But behind the neatly sealed boxes and labelled bottles lies a complex system where heat, dust, moisture, and fumes can pose real challenges to operations. Industrial centrifugal fans from RHF Fans are employed across the packaging industry to help keep these concerns under control and keep production lines running smoothly and reliably.
Demands of Packaging Facilities
Packaging environments face a range of challenges that impact everything from product quality to production flow. For instance, machinery such as shrink wrap tunnels or sealing units generates significant heat during operation, and without proper cooling, this excess heat wears out equipment and affects packaging quality. Dust and particles are a major consideration, as cutting and shaping materials like cardboard or plastic release debris into the air, which clogs up machines and diminishes air quality for operatives.
Moisture is another concern, especially in facilities that package beverages or perishable items. If humidity isn't adequately controlled, condensation can build up and interfere with labelling and sealing. On top of that, waste materials such as off-cuts and rejected packaging need to be cleared away quickly to keep lines moving. And in industries like food and pharmaceuticals, facilities must meet very strict hygiene and air purity standards to ensure that products are consumer-safe.
Altogether, these conditions create a demanding work environment that puts pressure on both people and machinery, affecting productivity, safety, and compliance if not correctly managed.
Enter the Centrifugal Fan
Centrifugal fans offer impressive versatility because they easily adapt to a wide range of ventilation needs. They convert rotational motion into powerful airflow by maximising kinetic energy, making them an indispensable piece of equipment for processing plants. Manufactured in the UK, RHF Fan’s centrifugal fans are available in belt-driven or direct-drive configurations, suitable for clean air handling as well as air laden with dust or moisture. With impeller sizes ranging from 225mm to over 1400mm, these fans can deliver airflow volumes from 250 m³/h to over 120,000 m³/h, making our fans ideal for anything from compact printing areas to large-scale bottling lines.
Fume, Odour and Dust Extraction
Centrifugal fans are integral to dust collection systems because they effectively capture and remove fine particles generated during die-cutting, trimming, and labelling operations. Their ability to produce high static pressure allows them to pull air, and the particles suspended in it, through ductwork and filtration systems with minimal loss in efficiency, even over long distances or complex duct layouts. Centrifugal fans are essential for fume and odour extraction in settings where adhesives, inks, or solvents are used. RHF’s direct-drive fans feature precision-balanced impellers which provide reliable extraction even under continuous duty. RHF Fans also manufactures centrifugal fans with ATEX certification for use in explosive atmospheres or with food-grade finishes for hygienic installations.
Pneumatic Conveying and Production Lines
Packaging lines that rely on heat-intensive processes, such as sealing or shrink wrapping, are especially prone to overheating without adequate ventilation. Centrifugal fans address this by generating a steady, high-pressure airflow that can be directed precisely where cooling is needed. RHF’s belt-driven centrifugal fans are ideal for such heat-sensitive tasks as they can operate continuously at elevated temperatures (up to 450°C with optional lagging).
Additionally, RHF centrifugal fans can support pneumatic conveying systems with high static pressure capacity, which maintains consistent airflow even when bends or long duct runs increase resistance. This keeps production lines free of blockages for uninterrupted operation.
Moisture Control and Drying
Centrifugal fans are also used to dry packaging surfaces—such as bottles, jars, and containers—before labelling or inkjet coding, where surface moisture can interfere with adhesion or print clarity. RHF’s high-velocity fans deliver focused airflow streams, which can be paired with nozzle manifolds or custom ductwork for pinpoint drying on high-speed lines.
In humid production environments, centrifugal fans provide additional support for drying by promoting consistent air circulation. RHF offers fans with variable inlet vanes to modulate airflow based on humidity levels and maintain ambient stability throughout the packaging hall.
Built for Demanding Conditions
RHF centrifugal fans are constructed with welded steel and reinforced scroll casings so they withstand the dusty, humid, and chemically aggressive conditions found in packaging operations. Optional epoxy or polyester powder coatings offer additional protection, while heavy-duty bearings and shaft seals ensure a long service life with minimal maintenance requirements.
Supporting Sustainable Operations
Modern centrifugal fans contribute to reducing environmental impact, particularly when paired with energy-efficient motors and drives. RHF supports sustainable design through integration with IE4/IE5 efficiency-rated motors and offers advice on fan selection and system balancing to minimise energy consumption across the board.
RHF’s fans also contribute to maintaining clean zone integrity by controlling airborne contaminants, which helps clients meet BRCGS, ISO 14644, and PS 9001 standards.
Reliable Airflow for Reliable Output
If you can secure effective airflow management at your processing plant, you will maximise uptime and maintain fast-paced production. RHF Fans’ industrial centrifugal units deliver the performance, efficiency, and resilience needed to tackle the daily demands of packaging lines, ensuring products are packed safely and without delay.
Looking to optimise your packaging environment with high-spec, UK-built fan systems? Talk to RHF Fans today and discover how our centrifugal range can transform your production line’s efficiency and air quality.