Ventilation systems and air ducts from 1.2 mm steel

Full-Cycle Manufacturing of Ventilation Equipment

The Akvilon production facility, spanning over 1000 square meters, provides full-cycle industrial ventilation manufacturing and the production of specialized 1.2 mm steel structures — both carbon steel with subsequent painting and stainless steel. Our product range includes straight duct sections, a complete range of fittings , and custom ductwork. To facilitate regular system maintenance, we manufacture airtight inspection hatches that are integrated directly into completed duct systems.

Our production capabilities enable us to manufacture ventilation components for any operating environment, offering fast-turnaround stainless steel duct fabrication and custom manufacturing from customer drawings for complex assemblies. The in-house manufacturing process ensures strict adherence to project dimensions and reliable delivery schedules.

Applications of Our Ventilation Systems

Professional ventilation solutions made of heavy-gauge 1.2 mm steel and stainless steel are essential for facilities where ventilation systems are exposed to high thermal, chemical, and mechanical loads. We manufacture systems for the following sectors:

• HoReCa and Food Industry: Restaurant and cafe ventilation is a critical element of fire safety. Our commercial kitchen ventilation systems are utilized in large hotels, cafeterias, and food production facilities exposed to high temperatures and grease accumulation.
• Healthcare: The structural properties of 1.2 mm thick steel components are essential for demanding medical applications. We manufacture MRI quench vent pipe systems, as well as airtight steel duct components for hospital and healthcare facility ventilation.
• Science and Industry: Durable steel ductwork is installed in chemical laboratories and industrial plants with specific requirements for exhaust systems and air handling.
• High-Security Facilities: All Akvilon products are manufactured in strict compliance with national regulations. Because of this, our specialized steel systems for government facilities, strategic institutions, and defense complexes, including NATO military bases, consistently meet all safety and quality criteria.

Commercial Exhaust Hoods, Baffle Filters, and Ductwork

To ensure compliance with high hygiene standards, the design of commercial exhaust systems must be carefully engineered down to every detail. In professional kitchens, each component serves a specific function, determining the choice of materials and manufacturing technologies. As part of complete commercial exhaust systems, we manufacture custom ductwork from heavy-gauge 1.2 mm steel, as well as essential exhaust components — commercial exhaust hoods and baffle filters, which are continuously exposed to hot steam, grease droplets, and cleaning agents. In accordance with European standard EN 16282, these components are fabricated from stainless steel.

The choice of steel grade depends on the budget and operating conditions: for the basic budget segment, AISI 430 steel is used. For most standard kitchens, low-carbon AISI 304L stainless steel is suitable, as it reduces the risk of corrosion in welded areas. For facilities with highly aggressive environments, such as large-scale food processing plants, molybdenum-alloyed AISI 316L stainless steel with enhanced corrosion resistance is used.

Exhaust systems manufactured by Akvilon feature stainless steel grease baffle filters. Unlike simple mesh filters that quickly become clogged with grease and create a fire hazard, the baffle structure forces hot air to change direction, causing grease particles to separate from the airflow and settle on the baffle plates. A dense row of curved baffle plates acts as a spark barrier, preventing sparks from entering the main ventilation shaft. The smooth surface allows accumulated deposits to be easily removed in an industrial dishwasher.

The 1.2 mm stainless steel ducts themselves are manufactured with continuous longitudinal welded seams, eliminating internal grooves and gaps where grease can accumulate and harden over time. Unlike spiral ducts, longitudinally welded ducts provide a smoother internal surface with fewer areas where contaminants can accumulate. Reliable mechanical joints are used to connect finished duct runs on-site. Depending on project specifications, welded ducts can be installed using couplings, nipples, quick-release clamps, or rigid flanges. Flanged connections represent the most reliable and rigid solution for heavy-gauge ductwork.

MRI Quench Vent Pipe Systems

Ensuring safety in modern medical facilities requires reliable specialized engineering systems. MRI quench vent pipe systems play a critical role in these safety requirements. The MRI magnet is maintained in a superconducting state through continuous cooling with liquid helium. During a controlled or emergency quench event, the rapid transition of helium from a liquid to a gaseous state causes a sudden increase in volume. To safely and directionally route the expanding gas outside the building, reliable MRI quench vent pipe systems must be installed.

During this process, quench pipes are subjected to severe operational stress. The temperature of the escaping helium gas can approach -269°C, while pressure inside the line rises sharply. Standard ventilation ducts are not designed to withstand such extreme thermal and pneumatic loads. To address these engineering challenges, heavy-gauge stainless steel pipes with a minimum wall thickness of 1.2 mm are used. This material provides the required structural strength and resistance to thermal stress, preventing deformation under extreme conditions. The primary reliability factor in manufacturing is precision TIG welding, which ensures airtight joints free from internal defects. As a result, MRI quench vent piping systems and cryogenic exhaust components maintain their structural integrity under critical operating conditions.

Akvilon manufactures components for specialized cryogenic gas quench systems, taking into account the high requirements for medical equipment. The cryogenic venting of pressurized helium demands high precision in the fabrication and joining of every assembly, including fittings and transitions. Helium exhaust systems produced at our facility feature high mechanical strength and reliability, which significantly reduces the risks of line decompression, ensuring the safety of medical facility staff, patients, and equipment.

Why Choose Akvilon

Akvilon has been manufacturing steel products and engineering systems since 1993. Decades of experience and modern production facilities enable us to meet the strict engineering requirements of general contractors and engineering companies.

Our advantages:

• Direct supplies: We supply ventilation systems directly from the manufacturer to the project site. This approach allows us to work without intermediaries, ensuring precise adherence to installation schedules and reducing overall project costs.
• Advanced equipment: Our production facilities utilize high-precision laser cutting technology, which guarantees exact edge geometry even for components with complex contours.
• Airtight manufacturing: The component manufacturing process features automated robotic welding. This technology delivers consistent weld quality and reliable airtight joints, ensuring the long-term reliability of exhaust duct lines.
• Flexible production: Our specialists provide efficient production of custom ventilation elements tailored to the specific engineering requirements of the facility.
• Licenses and warranties: Projects are supplied with CE-marked products and all required technical documentation. Our products comply with applicable national building requirements, allowing smooth installation and commissioning.

Regulatory Requirements for Commercial Kitchen Ventilation: 1.2 mm Steel Ductwork

The design of exhaust systems for professional kitchen equipment in Latvia is strictly regulated by national standards. According to the Latvian building code LBN 231-15 (likumi.lv), exhaust ducts serving cooking appliances, kitchen stoves, and grills must be manufactured exclusively from steel, and their wall thickness must not be less than 1.2 mm. This requirement is driven by safety considerations, where the primary factor is fire safety.

In the event of ignition of accumulated grease deposits inside the exhaust duct, the temperature instantly reaches extremely high values. Ordinary thin-gauge ducts immediately deform and burn out under such conditions. Heavy-gauge 1.2 mm steel ducts possess sufficient structural mass and rigidity to withstand severe thermal loads. They maintain their geometry and contain the flames inside the duct. Therefore, 1.2 mm thick fire-resistant ducts are a mandatory state standard for all catering facilities, and they are also mandatory in projects for clients with increased reliability requirements: government and defense institutions, NATO military bases, and large international restaurant chains.

In addition to regulatory requirements, there is a critical operational aspect. In accordance with Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 238 (Fire Safety Regulations), commercial food service facilities must undergo annual cleaning of their ventilation systems to remove grease. During maintenance, the internal surfaces of the ducts are subjected to intense mechanical and chemical stress through the use of stiff rotary brushes and highly concentrated alkaline cleaning agents. Thin-gauge steel with a thickness of 0.5-0.7 mm, which is permissible for standard general ventilation according to Section 126 of LBN 231-15, rapidly loses material thickness, develops microcracks, and degrades under such exposure. Conversely, heavy-gauge 1.2 mm ducts easily endure regular maintenance, retaining their original characteristics and ensuring a long service life.

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How to Request a Quote for Ventilation Production