|
| |
CO-SOLVENT CLEANING PROCESS REPLACES TRICH
Excellent cleaning performance combined with superior safety and environmental properties
Following a thorough review of available high-performance solvents and systems, Twickenham Plating replaced its trichloroethylene (trich, trike, or TCE) system with a semi-automatic co-solvent cleaning process, featuring 3M Novec Engineered Fluid HFE-7100.
The Kerry Microsolve M450/2C ultrasonic cleaning system uses HFE-7100 and Promoclean supplied by Samuel Banner and Co. Twickenham Plating holds ISO9002, QS9000 and CAA approvals and offers a high quality contract metal finishing service for the electronics, engineering and aerospace industries, and components need to be super clean prior to surface treatment.
The timing of the company's cleaning equipment replacement schedule was very opportune, as it also enabled Twickenham Plating to simultaneously address safety issues surrounding the reclassification of trike as a Cat 2 (probable) carcinogen.
In its review of alternative solvents and systems Twickenham Plating was impressed with the excellent cleaning performance and greater efficiency of the low consumption co-solvent process.
These considerations, coupled with the high occupational exposure limit and superior environmental properties of Novec Engineered Fluid HFE-7100, were the key factors in the decision to invest in the system.
It also eliminated the need for local exhaust ventilation.
Penny Bridger of Twickenham Plating Group commented, "Our components tend to have only a light machine oiling and initially we thought this high-performance co-solvent cleaning process might be an over-engineered solution. However it soon became clear that the excellent cleaning performance, greater efficiency and superior safety and environmental properties made it far away the best system for us.
"In operation we are achieving HFE-7100 fluid consumption levels as low as 3 litres per week."
Trike replacement and the Solvent Emissions Directive (SED)
Do you need to replace trichloroethylene (trich, trike, TCE) or another CMR in your manufacturing process?
Go to our News page for our easy to follow leaflet, produced in conjunction with 3M, explaining in simple terms what the key points of the legislation mean in practice, with advice on what you can do about it.
Free component trials
Whether your interest is in blast, wash or ultrasonic cleaning equipment, we offer FREE component trials, with no obligation to buy. To contact Guyson International, call on +44 (0)1756 799911, fax +44 (0)1756 790213, or email info@guyson.co.uk.
|
| |
|
|
