During routine maintenance cycles in industrial air-handling systems, this mechanical pre-filter is installed immediately upstream of stainless-steel exhaust ducts to capture coarse particulates before they reach finer filtration stages. In paint shops, the filter sits behind the spray booth’s extraction hood, intercepting overspray droplets and metal flakes that would otherwise clog downstream HEPA or activated-carbon filters. On foundry cooling lines, it protects heat exchangers by trapping sand and scale particles carried in the process air, extending the service interval of the final filters by 30–50 %. In food-processing plants, the same pre-filter is mounted inside recirculation units above baking ovens, where it removes flour dust and grease aerosols before the air is reheated and reused, preventing fouling of the burner nozzles. Operators replace the pre-filter during scheduled shutdowns—typically every 4–6 weeks—while the main filters remain in place, reducing downtime and disposal costs.