Surface World November 2019 Surface World November 2019 | Page 48

WATER & EFFLUENT TREATMENT
Finding the right chemistry with MecWash
Identifying the ideal
component cleaning system
for a cleaning requirement
can be time-consuming
and a significant financial
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
specification, 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.
“Cleaning components to the standards
expected by the world’s major OEMs is a
significant challenge. Companies manufac-
turing 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.
“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,
eg 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
component substrate, the contamination
and the wash system characteristics is the key
to a cost effective cleaning solution”
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.
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.
Based at its headquarters in Tewkesbury,
Gloucestershire, MecWash has a team
of specialists who work on the chemistry
of cleaning.
“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.
“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 under-
taken to ensure the perfect results are being
achieved before final commissioning and
ongoing customer support continues
afterwards.
“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.
“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.
“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.
Lina Ficken, Engineer Team Leader, explains:
“It is important that, following the expansion
process, mouldings are comprehensively
cleaned before further handling and
assembly processes, not least to remove
a silicone coating used during the manu-
facturing process.
“Our customers apply the cable protection
systems on site via the application of heat
which shrinks them into position –
temperature is clearly a factor that needs to
be tightly controlled during manufacturing,”
she adds. “MecWash have been able to
configure the cleaning system so that wash
temperatures are held at no more than 40°C,
which in conjuction with the tailored AC33
chemical solution that the company was able
to develop for us, ensures that all material
leaves the cleaning process in the optimum
condition.”
“MecWash worked closely with the
Hellerman Tyton team for many months,
developing the AC33 chemical, which is
formulated to clean the plastic components
effectively at low temperatures,” explains
John Pattison, Managing Director at
MecWash Systems. “MecWash’s expertise
in wash chemistry is based on years of
designing tailored chemicals for the most
testing wash challenges for individual
customers, as well as manufacturing our
own range of general wash chemicals and
inhibitors.”
Another long-standing MecWash customer,
Advanex Ltd based in Nottinghamshire,
came to us with a chemistry conundrum.
Advanex Ltd is part of a global group
with more than 20 operations worldwide,
covering the military and aerospace,
automotive and medical industries.
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NOVEMBER 2019
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