The Smarter Alternative
to Acoustic Enclosures
Acoustic enclosures are expensive, restrictive and sometimes ineffective. There is a better way, and it typically costs over 85% less.
Why acoustic enclosures aren’t the answer
An acoustic enclosure for a single machine typically costs £8,000 to £15,000. Across multiple machines or a production line, six-figure sums are common. One company we helped had been quoted £130,000 to enclose an air conveyor system. That is a lot of money for a steel box. And cost is only part of the problem.
They restrict access to your machines
Once fitted, your operators lose visibility of the machine and access becomes harder. That can slow production and increase downtime. In practice, workers frequently leave enclosure doors open, meaning the enclosure provides little or no noise reduction at all.
They don’t always solve the problem
An acoustic enclosure only contains the noise. It doesn’t address what’s generating it. We have dealt with cases where companies spent thousands fitting enclosures over fans, only for noise nuisance complaints to continue. The money was spent and the problem remained.
They can cause machinery to overheat
Enclosing a machine restricts airflow and this can cause the machine to overheat, leading to breakdowns, increased downtime and further costs on top of the enclosure spend.
Introducing AcoustiFix
At Advanced Noise Solutions, we developed AcoustiFix as a direct alternative to traditional acoustic enclosures. It costs significantly less. It works better. And it leaves your machinery fully accessible.
Where an acoustic enclosure boxes the noise in, AcoustiFix engineers it out. We find exactly where the noise is coming from, right down to the specific mechanism inside the machine or fan, and fix it at source.
Every AcoustiFix solution is bespoke. We assess the problem then design an engineering solution specific to that machine and environment. The outcome is often higher noise reduction than an enclosure would have achieved, and typically costs around 85% – 90% less.
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Real projects, real savings
The following are actual projects where companies came to us after receiving acoustic enclosure quotes, and in some cases after fitting enclosures that failed to solve the noise problem. Every figure is real.
A food company was quoted £130,000 to enclose an air conveyor system that used fans to transport plastic bottles around the factory.
We made minor engineering modifications directly to each fan, targeting the noise at source. The result was a 9 to 10 dBA reduction, hitting the company’s target of below 85 dBA across the factory. Total cost: £3,000.
A company was quoted £500,000 to enclose a 1,000 ton press that was causing noise nuisance to nearby residents.
We provided an engineering solution that reduced the press noise at source. This cost about £5,000, so we saved the company £495,000.
A manufacturer had been quoted £50,000 to fit acoustic enclosures over vibratory bowl feeders on five production lines. As well as the cost, enclosures would have restricted visibility, making it harder for operators to spot blockages.
Our engineering solution reduced the noise at source. It cost £3,300 and achieved a higher noise reduction than enclosures would have provided. As a bonus, it also eliminated the blockages that had been causing frequent machine stoppages.
A large industrial company was planning to fit acoustic enclosures over their machines at a cost of £33,000 more than our solution. A major concern was that enclosures would severely restrict access for loading and offloading.
Our AcoustiFix solution delivered a 24 dBA noise reduction. A result the company described as far beyond what they expected.
A manufacturer had been quoted £20,000 to fit acoustic enclosures over five small presses. The enclosures would have created access problems for operators on a busy production floor.
Our engineering solution cost £3,000 and reduced the press noise by 7 to 11 dBA. On larger presses, our engineering solutions typically save around £8,000 to £10,000 per machine compared with acoustic enclosures.
When a company installed two new dust extract fans outside their factory, nearby residents complained about the noise. The company fitted acoustic enclosures over both fans at a cost of £10,000. Complaints continued.
By suppressing the fan noise at source, our solution made the fans inaudible at the nearest house. Complaints stopped immediately. Our solution cost less than a third of the enclosures that had failed to provide sufficient noise reduction.
How does AcoustiFix work?
There is no standard fix. Every AcoustiFix assessment begins with diagnostic tests to determine what is actually generating the noise, then ends with a bespoke engineering solution for that specific machine and environment.
Diagnostic assessment
We visit your site and use specialist acoustic measurement equipment to pinpoint exactly where the noise is generated, right down to the specific mechanism inside the machine. Our tests also determine the main noise radiating surfaces and components.
Engineering the solution
We design a bespoke solution targeted directly at the noise source. The solution varies because the manufacturing process and the product made by the machine varies. There is no off-the-shelf fix applied generically.
Measurement and sign-off
After installation we can return to site to verify the result against your target, whether that is below 85 dB(A) for regulatory compliance, a level required by planning or environmental health, or the level needed to avoid noise nuisance. You get documented results.
Need to comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005? AcoustiFix is designed to hit specific dB targets. We have helped UK manufacturers comply with the 80 dB(A) action level and the 85 dB(A) upper action level for over 40 years, without the high cost and disruption of acoustic enclosures.
AcoustiFix vs acoustic enclosures
The cost difference is significant. The operational benefits are just as important. Here is how AcoustiFix compares.
| AcoustiFix | Traditional Acoustic Enclosure | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Typically 85–90% cheaper than acoustic enclosures | Typically £8,000 to £130,000+ per job |
| Noise approach | Engineers the noise out at source | Boxes the noise in and does not remove it |
| Machine access | Full machine access and visibility maintained | Restricts operator access and visibility |
| Overheating risk | No risk of machinery overheating | Can cause the machine inside to overheat |
| Maintenance | No dismantling needed for maintenance | Enclosure often has to come apart for access |
| Noise reduction | Higher dB reduction than enclosures in some situations | Can be as low as 0 – 5 dBA in some situations |
| Industry suitability | Suitable for food and pharmaceutical factories | Hygiene concerns in sensitive industries |
| Solution type | Designed for your specific machine | Standard box installed regardless of noise cause |
Bespoke solutions for industrial equipment
Every AcoustiFix solution is engineered for the specific noise problem, not fitted generically. We have solved noise problems for all of the following equipment types throughout the UK manufacturing industry.
Industrial Fan Noise
Fan noise is one of our most common applications, covering industrial fans, dust extraction fans and ventilation fans of all sizes. Acoustic enclosures over fans frequently fail to solve the problem. Our bespoke engineering approach targets the fan noise at source and typically achieves a far higher reduction.
Air Compressors
Compressor noise can be a problem in manufacturing and industrial environments. Acoustic enclosures for compressors are expensive and restrict maintenance access. A bespoke AcoustiFix solution reduces compressor noise at source, without boxing the compressor in.
Presses
Power presses generate high levels of impact noise. Our engineering solutions have reduced press noise by 7 to 11 dBA, typically, and delivered savings of around £8,000 per press compared to acoustic enclosures (for medium sized presses).
Vibratory Feeders
Vibratory bowl and linear feeders can be the noisiest items on an assembly line. Enclosures create visibility problems because operators cannot see when components are running low or when blockages occur. Our bespoke solutions reduce vibratory feeder noise at source while keeping the feeder fully visible and accessible.
Pumps and Blowers
Pump noise and blower noise are common problems in manufacturing, water treatment and process industries. Whether the issue is noise at work compliance or nuisance to nearby residents, our bespoke AcoustiFix engineering identifies the source and delivers a targeted fix.
Chillers, Air Conveyors and More
We have engineered bespoke noise solutions for chiller units, air conveyor systems, lathes, granulators and a wide range of other industrial machines. If it generates noise and you have been quoted for an acoustic enclosure, it is worth speaking to us first.
What our customers say
“Your excellent solution cost £127,000 less than the acoustic enclosures we were planning to install.”
“Your solution achieved a huge 24 dBA noise reduction and cost £33,000 less than the acoustic enclosures we were planning to fit. Your solution also avoided the major disadvantage of noise enclosures, that they would have severely restricted access for loading and offloading our product. We are delighted.”
“The best solutions I have seen. In a different league.”
Who carries out the assessment?
Every AcoustiFix assessment is carried out by David Kilpatrick, the founder of Advanced Noise Solutions. David is a professional Mechanical Engineer with a degree from Bath University, where he specialised in noise reduction.
He has over 40 years of experience solving industrial noise problems, including for some of the largest and best known manufacturing companies in the UK. Most noise experts are not engineers. David is, and that distinction is what makes AcoustiFix solutions different.
He can not only diagnose where the noise is coming from but design and engineer the fix himself.
Stop paying enclosure prices for problems we can engineer away
Tell us about your noise problem and we’ll be in touch. David will follow up to gather any photos, videos or data he needs, then give you his honest view of whether AcoustiFix can help and what it is likely to cost. No charge. No obligation.
Or call us directly
01727 864667Frequently asked questions
If you want to take it further, the next step is a paid site visit. David attends your facility, carries out specialist diagnostic noise tests to pinpoint exactly where the noise is generated and which components or surfaces are the main contributors, then determines the best engineering solution to achieve the noise reduction you need at minimum cost.
The free initial assessment costs nothing. It is designed to give you a clear steer before you commit to anything.