Liquids, sludge and dust on one platform
Wet & Dry Systems
Recovery systems configured for coolants, wash-down water, chemical spills and slurry as readily as dry dust — with construction matched to what's being collected.

What defines this line
- Wet and dry recovery on one unit
- Corrosion-resistant configurations
- High-capacity liquid collection
- Explosion-proof wet recovery options
Certification & documentation
Units in this line are built on the same explosion-proof construction principles — conductive, grounded and bonded throughout. Certification coverage varies by line and configuration: our EX1 HEPA line is UL 1203 Certified under UL 1203 certification. Ask us for the certification documents that apply to the configuration you are specifying.
Area classification is determined by your own engineering assessment. We match equipment to the classification you provide — see how Classes, Divisions and Groups work.
How to choose within this line
- 01
Separate liquid from solid duty
Coolant recovery, spill response and slurry handling place different demands on separation and materials. Describe the actual mix you expect to pick up.
- 02
Consider chemical compatibility
Recovered liquids can attack seals, hoses and vessel surfaces. Construction is chosen against the chemistry, not just the volume.
- 03
Reactive materials may require immersion
Some metal dusts are handled wet specifically to reduce ignition risk during recovery. That is a material-specific decision — confirm it for your dust rather than assuming.
- 04
Plan discharge and disposal
Recovered liquid is heavy and often regulated. How it leaves the machine matters as much as how it gets in.
Where this line is used
Not listed? Browse the full industry directory or start from your material. New to dust hazards? Start with how dust explosions work or vacuum vs dust collector.
Frequently asked questions
- Should I choose an electric or an air-operated vacuum?
- It usually comes down to two things: your area classification and whether you have adequate compressed air at the point of use. An air-operated unit is driven by compressed air through a venturi, so there is no electric motor, no switch and no cord in the recovery unit at all — which removes the electrical ignition question from the drive entirely and suits long continuous running. Electric units suit facilities without sufficient plant air. Both are built with the same conductive, grounded and bonded recovery path, because the dust carries static regardless of what drives the machine. Air units are louder, which is worth planning for in occupied areas.
- What is the difference between HEPA and ULPA filtration?
- They are tested at different particle sizes and efficiencies. Standard HEPA is tested to a minimum of 99.97% efficiency at 0.3 micrometres; PrestiVac units are rated at 99.99% absolute, and factory H14 grades reach 99.995%. ULPA extends further, to 99.9995% at 0.12 micrometres. Which you need follows the requirement — the room classification, the exposure limit, or the sanitation standard — rather than a preference for the larger number. Ask what a filter is tested to rather than what it is called.
- Do you supply dust collectors?
- No. We manufacture industrial vacuums — explosion-proof, HEPA, air-operated, wet and dry, central systems and custom-built units. A dust collector is a different machine: high air volume at low suction, capturing dust at the source through fixed ducting. A vacuum is lower volume at high suction, removing what has already settled. Most dust programmes need both, and we would rather point you to a collection-system specialist for that half than sell you the wrong equipment.
- Can one vacuum handle several different materials?
- Sometimes, but it is worth checking rather than assuming. The constraints are the most demanding material in the mix, the classification of every area the unit will enter, and whether any of the materials should be kept separate. Reactive metal fines should not be combined with other debris or with coolant, and regulated toxic materials such as lead, cadmium and beryllium call for dedicated equipment that never leaves the regulated area. A unit that also cleans the loading dock has no business in a cleanroom.
- Do you build custom systems?
- Yes — custom-built systems are part of the range, and with more than 200 versions built over the years most requirements have a precedent. The useful thing to bring is constraints rather than a specification: the material, the area classification, the duty cycle, the footprint available, and how recovered material needs to leave the building. Those five determine what can be built, and asking early about the certification documents your compliance process will require means the build produces them.
Other product lines
- Explosion Proof VacuumsGrounded, bonded recovery for combustible dust
- HEPA Vacuums99.99% filtration for fine and hazardous dust
- Pneumatic VacuumsAir-operated — no electrical components
- Industrial VacuumsContinuous-duty recovery for demanding plants
- ESD Static Free Vacuum CleanersStatic dissipating throughout
- Cleanroom Vacuum CleanersJudged by what leaves the exhaust
- Pharmaceutical Vacuum CleanersContainment and sanitation together
- Central Vacuum SystemsFacility-wide housekeeping from fixed drops
- Custom Engineered SystemsDesigned around your exact application
- AccessoriesGrounded hoses, tools and filters
Selecting equipment for this application
Written for engineers specifying recovery equipment. Each guide covers how the decision is actually made rather than which product to buy.
Equipment selection
Wet vs dry recovery
Recovering liquid is a different engineering problem from recovering dust. Where combined wet/dry units fit.
ReadApplication
Flammable liquid recovery
Recovering ethanol, fuels and solvents differs from toxic liquid recovery. Vapour rather than liquid is the hazard, which changes the classification.
ReadEquipment selection
Toxic liquid recovery
Recovering hazardous liquids is a compatibility problem before it is a suction problem. How chemistry, containment and disposal shape the specification.
ReadGet a Quote
Tell us your material, your classification and how hard you will work it. Our technical team will recommend the PrestiVac model best suited to the job.
Get a QuoteTalk to the manufacturer
Get the right explosion proof vacuum for your application.
Tell us what you need to vacuum and where. Our technical team will recommend the PrestiVac model best suited to your material, your classification and how hard you will work it — and because we build every unit ourselves, we can modify it to fit.
- Legally certified explosion proof
- Solid stainless steel construction
- Industry-best 3-year warranty
- Designed & manufactured in the USA
- 200+ vacuum versions
