Faster turnaround
By reducing downtime required for parts cleaning
Improved cleaning quality
By replacing variable manual processes
West Technology is a specialist vacuum engineering company providing custom-made medium and high vacuum systems. Learn how parts cleaning services based around an ultrasonic cleaner and a high-pressure manual parts washer have improved their processes, giving them full control of their parts cleaning with no more reliance on third parties and a faster turnaround for their customers.
Challenge
West Technology often sees pumps come through the door covered in heavy oil, grease, and dirt. Their existing cleaning processes included cleaning smaller components manually, with heavier components placed in automatic machines, followed by a further manual process to clean any missed areas. Any staining on the products would be addressed with a soak in a brake cleaner chemical and scrub with Scotchbrite. For the worst cases of components with stubborn residue then these would have to be shot blasted. Although the required cleaning quality was achieved, the processes involved lots of downtimes, and health and safety concerns using flammable liquids with brake cleaner manually.
The maintenance team called in specialists from Safetykleen’s Bristol branch to look at alternative solutions that could be managed fully in-house, further improving the productivity and compliance of their processes.
Solution
We split the requirement into two processes.
Rotors, Stators, casing, and many more pump parts that arrive heavily stained with carbonated deposits are now cleaned in an Ultrakleen machine. The Ultrakleen cleans using ultrasonically generated pressure waves which agitate the cleaning fluid at very high velocity. This creates a scrubbing action against any solid surface in contact with the fluid, rapidly removing soiling and contaminants.
Grease and dirt are removed from other small to medium-sized components using a Jetkleen machine. With its high pressure pump and targeted spray gun delivery, components are cleaned quickly and effectively. It cleans a wide range of materials that often need to be removed from customer’s pumps before inspection: pumps can now be cleaned and inspected quickly.
These two new purchases will be a great asset to the West Technology Vacuum Service department, improving lead times and cutting down labour time which will then reduce costs for the customer.
Results, return on investment and future plans
All parts are now cleaned in-house with non-hazardous, VOC-free, pH neutral cleaning fluids, helping to improve the working environment. West Technology are now in full control of their parts cleaning, with no more reliance on third parties. Also, no further use of solvents and minimum PPE is required following their switch to the new water-based automatic and high-pressure parts washers.
