Companies across diverse sectors employ industrial parts washers to clean or purify components in preparation for the next step in a manufacturing process, such as coating or packaging. Industrial parts washers are usually powered by electricity, gasoline, oil, or steam, and consist of a wash tank made of glass, plastic, steel, or stainless steel. Industrial washers can be used with a range of different media, from hot water and detergents to solvents and abrasive particles.
No matter what media is employed, the end goal is the same — to ensure the parts going through the washer come out thoroughly clean and free of contaminants and debris such as dirt, carbon, oil, grease, metal chips, mold release agents, cutting fluids, paint, or corrosion.
The components being washed and the type of debris being removed will determine the specific cleaning method, the cleaning media used, and the ideal type of washer for the job.
Types of Parts Washers
There are six different types of industrial washers available for use:
- Thermal systems, or burn-off systems, utilize heat to remove coatings such as grease, oil, paint, and other organic compounds.
- Degreasers make use of solvents or vapor to get rid of compounds that water isn’t able to remove.
- Fluidized bed systems use air blowing through a porous bed or screen and to suspend abrasive particles that contact and clean parts.
- Immersion tank cleaning systems, or scrub tanks, use a cleaning bath agitated with mechanisms such as paddles. In other applications, parts may even be scrubbed by hand.
- Spray Washers, meanwhile, use pressurized streams of water — or water mixed with cleaning compounds — to clean or remove surface debris such as scale, rust, paint, dirt, grease, and abrasive dust.
- Ultrasonic systems use immersion tanks, in which the cleaning solution is vibrated at ultrasonic frequencies.
Depending on their design, many industrial washers can load, wash, dry, and unload parts automatically using conveyor belt systems to move parts in and out of the washer.
Additional equipment options for industrial washers include water softeners, separators, filtration systems, heaters (gas, electric, or steam), tanks, and spinning spray arms, as well as solvents, chemicals, and other compounds. Keep in mind that each of these will have a specific effect on the cleaning operation, so it’s essential to fully understand the benefits and drawbacks of each option to ensure that your industrial washer meets your specific needs.
Common Applications for Industrial Parts Washers
Industrial washers can be used in countless applications across a wide range of industries. Strippers, for instance, remove paint ahead of welding and repair services. Washing systems used in the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries ensure that even the smallest contaminants are removed from part surfaces, providing complete disinfection and sterilization.
Designs of industrial washers can be configured so that they are capable of cleaning both the inside and outside of plastic containers and glass bottles, ensuring reliable sterility and hygiene. Other types of washers may be employed to clean dunnage or pallets.
The Versatility of Parts Washers
Industrial parts washers can be incorporated into the process flow of many different industries and applications to ensure optimal cleanliness and sanitation for critical components and parts. To ensure that you select the right machine for your unique application, consider the specific properties of the parts being cleaned and the type of debris you’re looking to remove. Not only will this help ensure optimal performance, but it will also eliminate unnecessary costs and downtime, keeping your operations running as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Resources:
- http://www.delongequipment.com/closer-look-industrial-parts-washers/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parts_washer
- https://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/manufacturing_process_equipment/cleaning_surface_preparation/parts_washers
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