Product category:
Cleaning media and cleaning systems
News Release from: IB Industries | Subject: Sealed cleaning systems for chlorinated solvents
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 24 April 2007
Sealed cleaning systems use chlorinated
solvents
Sealed, top-loading chlorinated solvent cleaning machines - routinely used in some EU countries - can be used safely, with no risk to operators and they also minimise solvent consumption.
Representatives from more than 80 companies in and around the West Midlands, attended a series of presentations on sealed solvent cleaning at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley, UK The event was staged by component cleaning company IB industries, in conjunction with its German-based machine suppliers EVT and Hockh, and included a practical demonstration of a new EVT sealed, top-loading solvent cleaner in action at nearby subcontract finisher, Midland Deburr and Finish
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 27 Jul 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Safechem Europe, a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company, was also on hand to explain the benefits of the Safechem system, which has been specially designed for the safe storage and handling of chlorinated solvents in surface cleaning application.
It is a common misconception that trichloroethylene, the widely used solvent vapour degreaser, is completely banned in the UK by the regulations contained in the new Solvent Emissions Directive.
However, explained Brian Malpass of Safechem, because of its Category 2 Carcinogen classification, it needs to be managed so as to minimise exposure and emissions.
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High quality, energy-saving degreasing plants are hermetically sealed and can be delivered for using Perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or alternately halogen, flammable solvents.
Below a one tonne/year consumption threshold, as defined by the SED regulations, the SER does not apply and, therefore, achievement of Emission Limit Values (ELVs) and substitution of trichloroethylene is not required.
Users over the one tonne/year threshold are obliged to substitute trichloroethylene (R45 risk phrase) and perchloroethylene and methylene chloride (R40 risk phrase).
Those users should have registered by 31 October last year and full compliance has to be achieved by 31 October of this year.
It is therefore in the interests of those companies who find that alternative cleaning processes (aqueous systems, for example) are unsuitable for their particular cleaning and degreasing application, to keep under the defined limit.
Using an hermetically sealed, virtually emission-free and carefully controlled solvent cleaning machine can provide the answer - not only can such machines be used safely, with no risk to operators, but they also minimise solvent consumption.
Malpass also suggested that the 'carbon footprint' issue has to be considered.
"Because of their associated effluent treatment systems, water-based cleaners consume significantly more energy than solvent degreasers; this can have a bearing on a company's overall carbon footprint.".
* The German experience - companies in Germany have lived with the strict regulation of solvent cleaning and degreasing for many years and sealed systems are commonplace.
The machine ranges manufactured by EVT and Hockh, and sold through IB Industries in the UK, are well proven and offer complimentary systems - top or front-loading.
The operation and specifications of the machines were outlined at the Dudley event by Harald Eiberger of EVT Eiberger Pfohler and Michael Hockh of Hockh Metall-Reinigungsanlagen (Reinigungsanlagen - cleaning systems, Ed).
For example, the EVT 'Gigant' hermetically sealed machine installed by Midland Deburr and Finish, was specially developed for applications where large chambers are required for large parts or large volumes.
A typical Gigant in a top loading configuration has a working envelope 2000mm x 1000mm x 1000mm and will clean and degrease parts at between two and four charges per hour with vapour and can be fitted with spray, immersion, ultrasonic, with rotation or oscillation stages.
EVT has also recently intorduced the 'Bambino', a competitively priced top-loading sealed solvent degreaser for smaller throughputs.
Hockh 'Multi-Clean' hermetically sealed systems can use perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene or alternative solvents, and operate under vacuum to allow the solvents to work at reduced temperature and perform consistently, particularly with complex shapes and high throughput demands.
Hockh's speciality is the design and manufacture of customised cleaning plants with small or large chambers, based on standardised modules.
With the addition of carbon adsorption and control with a solvent concentration measuring device below 1gr/M3, users will meet the requirements of the Solvent Emission Directive.
The Hockh 'Multi Clean 1-4F', for example, has a working envelope of 500mm x 300mm x 200mm and will clean and degrease complex parts at typical throughputs of five to 10 per hour, with stages of spray, immersion, ultrasonic, vapour and a drying phase, and the ability to rotate or oscillate parts at any stage.
Subcontract surface finishing and treatment specialist, Midland Deburr and Finish, based at the Lye Valley Trading Estate in Lye, near Halesowen, has recently installed this state-of-the-art EVT 'Gigant' top-loading solvent-based degreasing and cleaning system.
Chris Arrowsmith of Midland Deburr and Finish said: "This particular machine offers the versatility to process heavy and complex parts, as well as large volume work, with all the inherent advantages of solvent degreasing and in complete safety with no emission problems.
The installation of the machine enables us to continue to offer a comprehensive, high quality solvent degreasing service that complies with the solvent emission regulations.".
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