No drain connection needed
July 1st 2007

Aqueous-based component cleaning technology from MecWash Systems is now meeting the high performance standards laid down by one of the world's leading manufacturers of measurement equipment.

Four MecWash Midi cleaning stations are now operational for Renishaw and are achieving results that even satisfy Tof SIMS analysis (Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry) – a highly demanding surface analysis process undertaken at Bristol University. As a result, the 330,000 components per month produced at Renishaw's Stonehouse and Wotton-under-Edge facilities are achieving the high levels of cleanliness required for a range of applications in industry.

Each of the four MecWash Midi installations – three at Stonehouse and the other at Wotton-under- Edge – benefit from a builtin Aqua-Save wash water treatment system which vacuum drying. This ensures that material such as metal swarf, coolant and auto de-burring residue is removed from each component ahead of further assembly operations that take place at Renishaw's plants – both in the UK and Ireland. The systems also provide a clean, bright, residue free surface finish without spots and stains which is paramount to the highly aesthetic appearance of the final product.

"Each wash programme accommodates two metal trays, loaded from waist height and indexed during loading through 180°, into which perforated plastic inserts are located.

Individually these can accommodate a wide range of component sizes – from 6 to 320 units per load – but importantly, all are held in position without the risk of metal-to-metal contact,"comments MecWash sales director, Paul Young.

All the units are able to accommodate a range of manufacturing materials including stainless steel, cleans and recycles the wash and rinse solutions.

Consequently, the wash installations do not need a connection to drains allowing them to be sited where required within the production lines.

Based on the MecWash rotational washing technology, the Midis' choice of programmes provides rotational flood immersion washing, rinsing, final rinsing, high performance filtration, oil separation and hot air and aluminium and brass – direct from the wide range of machining processes that are at the heart of the majority of Renishaw's manufacturing expertise.

The use of ultrasonics in conjunction with the rotational wash technology in two of the machines had been specified to remove surface staining that could arise from dried-on coolant.

John Fielder, senior production engineer, explains; "Previously, we used a series of ultrasonic dip tanks and solvent cleaning so there are clear performance and environmental benefits associated with the decision to move to the MecWash installations," he says.

"Alongside this, the in-built Aqua-Save units which require only small amounts of waste oil to be transported occasionally for safe disposal off site, enhance our environmental performance which we believe is a key element in responsible, modern manufacturing processes.

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