Several industries right from rail and automotive to aerospace and oil and gas plants make use of multiple-step manufacturing, in which components are subjected to different processes such as heat treatment or forging.
During these processes, the components easily gather dirt, oil or grease along with some contaminants belonging to the process they have undergone. It is vital that these components are thoroughly cleaned before being used in the subsequent steps of assembly or gauging. This cleaning is possible only by the use of an effective industrial component washer.
Types of Component Cleaning
Generally, components can be cleaned by two methods – for large components, the manual cleaning method is used whereas smaller-sized components can be cleaned with an industrial component washer.
In most cases, the use of automated cleaning procedures calls for several individual steps that begin with a pre-cleaning stage and then proceed through the main cleaning, rinsing and drying stages to finally give completely clean and dry components.
Industrial Component Washing
Considering that several steps need to follow each other in the cleaning process, the industrial component washer is designed in such a way that it has a large chamber to accommodate the components. Besides, the washer needs to be constructed of a material that is highly resistant to heat, attack by chemical solvents and corrosion.
The type of cleaning agent used depends on the nature of contaminants the process seeks to eliminate. The cleaning agent may be water alone or in combination with halogenated or hydrocarbon solvents or aqueous cleaning agents.
Generally, it is preferable to use aqueous cleaners such as surfactants, alkaline builders, rust inhibitors and sequestering agents because the halogen and hydrocarbon-based solvents are not only hazardous but also cause environmental damage.
Choosing a Component Washer
Several brands and models of industrial component washers are available in the market today and customers who wish to buy one are often spoilt for choice. However, there are certain basic guidelines you need to consider when making the decision to buy.
- Check the capacity of the component washer and make sure it is large enough to handle your expected loads. If you compromise on the size of the washer, it could mean unnecessary delays that affect the rest of your manufacturing process.
- Study the mechanism of cleaning and make sure there is no scope for contamination of your components with a solvent or detergent that may interfere with further processing.
- Find out about the cleaning agents to be used with the washer – are they easily available, are they easy to wash off following the cleaning cycle, are they highly expensive, do they cause environmental damage and so on. Use this information to make a wise decision.
Washing of industrial components is a crucial aspect in most manufacturing industries. Therefore, it is vital you purchase an industrial component washer that gives you components that are clean, dry and safe for further processing.