Every sump, wash bay or coolant tank eventually faces the same question: how do you clear solids fast enough to keep production on track? Mechanical filtration pushes liquid through rolls of media or fixed screens, trapping swarf and sludge until the bed advances. Centrifugal separation spins the liquid, forcing heavier particles and oils outward and discharging them. The choice of filtration determines pump uptime, media use, and whether discharge complies with site and regulatory standards. Get it wrong, and you’ll likely face cavitating pumps, tanks backing up, or crews being pulled away from other jobs to clear blockages.
How mechanical filtration works
On the workshop floor, mechanical filtration often serves as the first pass. Interfil’s Hoffman flatbed Vacumatic filter indexes media only when pressure builds, so flow isn’t interrupted. Swarf and sludge form a cake on the filter bed, which is to be removed in strips as the media advances. For many industrial operations, it’s a straightforward way to maintain control over a 1,500-litre coolant tank between shifts, with reduced manual handling and fewer disruptions.
Where it falls short
Media blinds. Oils bind fines into a dense mat that resists flow. Pumps strain, throughput drops, and operators often find themselves swapping rolls for only a few millimetres of build-up. In wash bays, tanks overflow faster than crews can empty them. On continuous lines, that wasted time translates directly into lost output and higher consumable costs. Even when the right media is used, sludge volumes grow quickly, and larger sites face pressure on storage and cartage – especially when disposal options are limited.
FAQs on industrial filtration
Is mechanical filtration enough for metal fines?
It handles bulk removal, but a polishing stage is typically required for reuse or to meet stricter discharge rules
Does a centrifuge help with oil in wash bays?
Yes. It removes free oil and suspended fines, keeping tanks cleaner for longer. Centrifugal filtration also eases the load on downstream treatment, which often struggles with excess oil.
Can both systems work in sequence?
They often do. Mechanical removes heavy solids up front, with a centrifuge polishing the liquid downstream.
Which option reduces compliance risk?
Centrifugal systems typically deliver cleaner discharge streams that make meeting environmental limits easier, especially in regional areas where water reuse is critical.
What about operator time?
Mechanical units need media changes and monitoring. Centrifuges run with less input once they are set up, freeing crews to focus on other jobs.
Why industries use centrifugal filtration
Centrifuges generate thousands of G-forces to push solids to the outer wall while clarified liquid exits at the centre. With no media to blind, the flow stays consistent. Interfil’s IC45AV centrifuge handles 4800 litres per hour, removing fines and oils that clog mechanical filters. In food processing, centrifugal filtration supports stable product quality; in mining and metal plants, it cuts manual clean-up. Across regional Australia, such compact, modular treatment systems provide operations with a steadier way to reuse water, a connection that CSIRO links to higher productivity and easier compliance.
Choosing the right filtration system
| Scenario | Best Fit |
| Heavy solids, low clarity need | Mechanical |
| Fine particles, oil sheen | Centrifugal |
| Reuse or strict discharge limits | Mechanical + Centrifugal |
| Minimal operator checks | Automated centrifuge |
Keep your site running with Interfil
Interfil is a family-owned company in Mortdale, NSW. Known for our range of wastewater filtration in manufacturing and trusted for successful installations across Australia, we have been keeping operations moving for decades with Vacumatic filters that index rolls only when pressure rises and centrifuges that pull fines and oils out before they choke the line. Contact us to keep your operation steady, compliant and cost-efficient.