By continuously moving across the surface, the oil-attracting hose keeps a much larger area free of oil. A disc skimmer reaches only a small area because the disc dips through one point of the surface and emerges again, creating very little surface movement.
A disc skimmer with a 300 mm disc can compensate for liquid-level variations of only about 100 mm. Larger variations require a larger disc skimmer. The disc diameter therefore limits the level range over which a disc skimmer can continue to operate.
The robust geared motor used on the 1U offers a significantly longer service life than the 12 V or 24 V motors commonly used on disc skimmers. Other wear parts are also made from high-quality materials and need replacement only rarely.
Rubber wipers used on disc skimmers need relatively frequent replacement once the oil contains particles.
For particularly high particle loads, the 1U can be equipped with ceramic wipers to overcome this problem.
A disc skimmer must always operate inside the tank, requiring space and a suitable opening. The 1U can be adapted to local conditions and, where necessary, installed on, inside or next to the tank.
The oil-attracting hose is the only regular wear part. Its service life is about three months under extreme conditions and typically around twelve months. Disc-skimmer discs are often made of plastic and may deform at higher bath temperatures. Because the wiper cannot compensate for a warped disc, only part of the adhering oil is removed.