Surface World June 2019 Surface World June 2019 | Page 76

PRODUCTS & PROCESSES
Finding the right
chemistry with MecWash
Identifying the ideal
component cleaning system
for a cleaning requirement
can be time-consuming
and a signifi cant fi nancial
investment for any precision
engineering company.
Cleaning technology is
continually advancing and
while engineers focus on
the physical systems and
their capabilities in terms of
technical specifi cation, build
quality and capacity, very
often less consideration
is given to another critical
part of the process – the
wash chemicals to be used,
according to John Pattison,
Managing Director of
MecWash Systems Ltd. component
substrate, the
contamination and
the wash system
characteristics is the
key to a cost-
effective cleaning
solution”
“Cleaning components to the standards
expected by the world’s major OEMs is a
significant challenge. Companies
manufacturing precision machined
components are under continuous scrutiny
from their customers over the quality of their
products. It can often be the make or break
element in maintaining a contract or winning
new work,” said John. “We work closely with our customers to
identify their needs and understand the
components being cleaned to achieve their
cleanliness specifications. This includes
investigating the component substrate,
contamination and the preferred cycle time.
“A company considering a washing system
for a critical application will normally focus
on the cleaning standard achieved by the
system, perhaps measured by using a
Millipore test or looking at surface energy
after washing. When trying to enhance the
results, customers concentrate on the
physical characteristics of the wash system,
e.g. pump pressures or ultrasonic power.
“The wash chemical selected is often a
secondary consideration. However, in many
applications understanding the chemistry and
how the chemistry interacts with the
Many engineers
consider the
chemistry a “dark
art”, as they are not
so familiar with the
options and their
implications.
However, the
chemical analysis
must be a rigorous
scientific process if
the best results are to be achieved.
“A customer will sometimes want to change
the use of a machine, introduce a new
component of differing geometry, substrate
or cutting oil/coolant. This means the
chemical balance will change in the wash
and rinse process.
That is why MecWash, the UK’s leading
precision aqueous parts cleaning and
degreasing systems manufacturer, have an
in-house laboratory for the analysis, design
and production of chemicals for specific
washing applications.
“We would then advise on the changes in
chemistry and process required to ensure a
good result is achieved. In some cases, we
might be dealing with a more unusual
application, and analysis within our
laboratory will ensure a correct wash
chemical is selected”, said John Pattison.
Based at its headquarters in Tewkesbury,
Gloucestershire, MecWash has a team of
specialists who work on the chemistry of
cleaning.
“We have our own range of wash chemicals
or we can use the customer’s preferred
suppliers. However, if that fails to give the
results the customer needs, then we can
design a bespoke wash chemical that works
with our washing system to produce the
cleanliness results required. It is only when
the process and chemistry is fully understood
that we specify a machine that is suitable.”
And it doesn’t end there. In-house laboratory
cleanliness testing and analysis are
undertaken to ensure the perfect results are
being achieved before final commissioning
and ongoing customer support continues
afterwards.
“A prime example is Hellerman Tyton who
came to MecWash with a very tough
cleaning challenge. Plastic components with
sticky contamination, yet the parts were
vulnerable to damage at normal washing
temperatures. We devised a detergent that
was particularly effective on their
contamination at low temperatures.”
Hellerman Tyton, the cable management
solutions specialist, now achieves high quality
component cleaning, within strict temperature
constraints. The facility, comprising a
MecWash Midi wash system with an
integrated Aqua-Save wast water recycling
system, is central to production at the
Devon-based company and, critically, it has
been configured to avoid the risk of product
shrinkage.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 76
74
JUNE 2019
read online: www.surfaceworld.com