Published 1/18/2018

Parts Cleaning Across Continents

If the metalworking industry wants to predict the future of the parts cleaning market, it needs to look across the pond at the European trends and new developments taking place there.

Parts Cleaning

Lori Beckman

Senior Editor, Products Finishing

The Tergo Chlorine-Free Cleaning Fluid from MicroCare is a high-temperature cleaning fluid engineered for full environmental protection. It is designed for use in vapor degreasers and is free of VOCs. This co-solvent cleans all types of materials and removes oils, greases, waxes, particulates, paints, buffing compounds and anti-rust agents.

Ecoclean displayed its EcoCcore solvent cleaning machine as well as its EcoCwave aqueous machine. Confirming the machine monitoring trends in the parts cleaning market that we saw at the show, both of these machines features an HMI (human machine interface) panel with clearly laid out process tracking. The EcoCwave’s HMI operator panel not only offers real-time monitoring, but also fault diagnostics and service interval notification.

The Sita CleanoSpector inspects surface cleanliness. The fluorescence measuring principle allows detection of the slightest traces of contamination such as oils, grease or cooling agents. It can also measure the layer thickness of oils, anticorrosive agents or bonding agents. After choosing a surface profile, the operator starts the measurement by pressing a button. The measurement takes about one to 10 seconds. The cleanliness inspection is carried out especially on critical points on the part. The measuring device and the optional windows guide the operator through the parts control. The measuring result is displayed in percent and shows the lowest and averaged cleanliness of a part. The device operator can store limit values in the device for sufficient cleanliness.

The LiquiSonic analytical technology from SensoTech measures the concentration of anti-corrosive or quenching agents, continuously and in real time. The sensors are installed directly into the baths or the pipes. This design makes an immediate and exact fluid replenishment possible, and the sensors determine the contamination degree in the baths. The technology is based on sonic velocity measurement. The real-time results of the inline measurement are transferred online to PCs and control systems.

Jomesa Measurement Systems’ HFD4 (high focal depth) cleanliness analysis system is for measuring, counting and categorizing contamination on filter membranes. The microscope uses a method to measure and categorize contamination as metallic, non-metallic or fibers. It also features auto-focus, zoom sensor and automatic light balancing. It is capable of single or multi-filter scanning by upgrading to a four-filter or six-filter stage. The average cycle time beginning with placing the filter to report generation is approximately four minutes per filter.

If the metalworking industry wants to predict the future of the parts cleaning market, it needs to look across the pond at the European trends and new developments taking place there. After all, Europe has long accepted parts cleaning as a necessary process instead of what the U.S. often considers it—a necessary evil. As parts cleaning regulations continue to evolve and become more stringent, it’s the European Union that sets the pace for these requirements. The U.S. follows.

Last year’s 15th edition of the parts2clean show in Stuttgart, Germany, held from Oct. 24 to 26, 2017, confirmed that Europe leads the way in parts cleaning technology. The trade show featured 253 exhibitors in the industrial parts and surface cleaning industry from 16 nations. As the largest parts2clean yet, the annual show attracted 4,900 visitors from 41 countries, which is almost 20 percent more visitors than the show held in 2015.

Not only were solutions displayed at the show for cleaning, degreasing, demagnetizing, bath care, corrosion protection and the handling and packaging of cleaned workpieces, but cleanliness control, analysis and monitoring equipment were also showcased in a big way. In fact, the displays on the show floor reflected this trend in quality control. Sensors, monitors and cleaning analysis equipment were prevalent throughout the show and popular among attendees.

As far as cleaning requirements go, the buzz at the show was that even more stringent requirements are on tap, and that includes for the U.S. as well. Therefore, it’s believed that the U.S. parts cleaning market will gradually grow because the demand for this equipment will increase out of necessity.

The cleaning industry is growing, and it’s important for U.S. machine shops to understand and embrace what’s soon for cleaning the parts they produce. To help with this, the metalworking industry offers additional opportunities for shops to learn more about parts cleaning technologies and regulations. The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) coming up this September will feature exhibitors in the parts cleaning segment. Also, the Parts Cleaning Expo (PCx), part of the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS), will be held April 2-4, 2019, in Cleveland, Ohio, to give attendees even more exposure to the parts cleaning technologies available to the U.S. market. Along with cleaning exhibits from experts at PMTS, PCx offers an extended series of conference sessions covering everything from fundamentals of cleaning to the environmental rules and regulations coming down the pipeline.

PM recommends that shops immerse in parts cleaning information to prepare for what’s in the near future for U.S. metalworking companies. The images here on this spread illustrate several products featured at last year’s parts2clean show.