SELECTING A MACHINE
WASHING AND DEGREASING OBJECTIVES

It is important to consider that degreasing machines are no longer accessory elements in a process, but instead, important in production and essential for reaching the desired levels of quality and production. Since the degree of cleanliness required by the various industries ( for their own specific parts ) can vary within wide limits, we believe it necessary to make an initial distinction between the concepts of cleanliness and degreasing.

In general terms, a surface is clean when it is not covered by appreciable amounts of organic, mineral or metal contaminants that can be seen by the unaided eye. It should be taken into account that a surface may be clean, but wet or covered by oil or petrol etc. In a similar fashion, a totally oil and grease free surface may be considered as being degreased even when covered with dust, chips, metal oxides, water and carbon etc.

This means that clean parts are not necessarily degreased and that degreased parts are not necesseraly perfectly clean.

In addition to the stated concepts, there is that of absolute cleanliness, wich is applied when the parts have a perfectly clean surface from both physical and chemical points of view. This degree of cleanliness is only achieved by employing complete cleaning cycles. This means that it is firts necessary to establish the required degree of cleanliness and degreasing, together with the final state in wich the parts are to be stored ( dry or oiled, etc ).

Wich this information and knowing the type of dirt to be eliminated, the system and type of machine to be employed may be studied, together with the usable products and the most suitable for of application.

Factors which influence the
cleaning method

Factors which influence the selection
of cleaning product

• The size and shape of the parts.
• Ease of use.
• Later operations.
• Production.

• Type of dirt, quantity and complexity.
• Adherence.
• The nature of the parts.
• Required final condition.

Circumstances which influence
the selection of a degreasing or cleaning
system

Factors which influence the machine
to be selected

• The desired degree of cleanliness.
• Nature of the contaminants and quantity on the parts.
• Material composition ( base metal, plastic, etc...).
• Production volume.
• Parts specifications ( weight and shape, etc... ).

• Chosen cleaning product.
• Cleaning method.
• Production.
• Prior and subsequent operations.
• Parts handling.
• Avaliable space and power.
• Price.