CLEANING & DEGREASING MEDICAL & FITTINGS INDUSTRIES’ DEMANDS MET
Pegler returned to MecWash when it
wanted more degreasing capacity
Technologies (https://is.gd/zarixi) has
furnished an international client specialising
in the manufacture of precision microcomponents
for the medical device industry
with a rationalised solution for cleaning,
pickle, rinsing and drying. The solution had to
manage the company’s forecast increased
throughput, whilst maintaining medical
implant cleanliness standards, as well as
providing a high degree of safety for both the
environment and operatives. Limited oor
space was a constraint.
Historically carried out on a manual ad hoc
basis employing various individual tanks and
vessels where operators manually moved
components between tanks and with
exposure time ascertained using manually
operated time clocks, the client had
embarked on a multi-million-pound investment
in new equipment to cope with a huge upturn
in business and recognised the inadequacy of
this approach, as well its hazardous nature,
because of the chemicals employed.
Customer requirements were to: process
precision micro-components, complex tubular
components and sub-assemblies to the
required medical implant standards;
rationalise the current process into a more
logical order, resulting in a shorter overall
process time; develop a drying process that
would guarantee the removal of rinse water
without staining; provide a high level of
functionality to improve process control and
data collection; introduce a reliable and
repeatable, fully automated process within
limited oor space and headroom; and
remove, where possible, human intervention
during the process and remove the extensive
risk to operators.
Layton performed extensive trials to
ensure that the objectives could be met.
Special xturing design was developed to
hold the components to optimise the cleaning
and drying process. The system features
Hastelloy tanks to contain the hazardous
chemistries, automated chemical dosing and
data logging to satisfy the client in terms of
the overall ability of the new system to meet
the requirements of the project.
The nal design resulted in a new, fully
automated, multi-stage cleaning, pickling and
drying system, suitable for use in a limited
space designed speci cally to meet the
stringent documentation requirements of ISO
13485, complete with ve-year warranty.
At Doncaster-based Pegler, one of the
world’s leading manufacturers of advanced
plumbing, heating and engineering products,
another MecWash (https://is.gd/tutero) unit
has been installed, 25 years after the
company installed its rst piece of equipment
from the company.
In 1994, it turned to Tewkesbury-based
MecWash for a washing system to replace its
inef cient dunk-wash machine and rotational
basket spray-wash machine. Pegler went on
to install three more MecWash systems over
the next six years.
During that time, Pegler has seen
signi cant growth and, like other component
manufacturers, ever increasing levels of
cleanliness are required by customers.
Based on the excellent cleaning results
achieved over the past quarter of a century,
the company chose to return to MecWash
again, installing a MWX400, one of its latestgeneration
cleaning systems.
Says Steve Potts, production engineer at
Pegler Yorkshire: “With growth, we have seen
a need to increase the levels of production
and that means having a washing system
capable of keeping pace, without compromise
to cleaning results.
“The existing systems we have still work
very well and continuously maintain our high
levels of cleanliness, and have always been
durable and reliable. The addition of the nextgeneration
MWX400 ensures even greater
integration with our production systems and it
can be adapted more easily for future growth.
“Most importantly, the MWX400 is
producing even higher levels of cleaning
standards than is expected. It is an
exceptional washing system that will adapt to
our future production growth and cleaning
demands. It is also highly ef cient, ensuring
reduced costs.”
The MWX400 combines ultrasonics with
high ow washing, rinsing, dedicated jetting
and vacuum drying to provide the highest
quality of component cleaning and drying
available, says MecWash.
The systems are designed to process
complex and intricate machined or pressed
parts that require high standards of
cleanliness, surface nish and dryness. This
includes the removal of all types of
contamination, from soluble and mineral oils
to greases, polishing compounds, lapping
pastes and dye penetrants.
Cleaning technology fair ‘parts2clean’
‘parts2clean’ 2019 will be held from 22 to 24 October 2019 at the Stuttgart Exhibition
Center, making it the 17th edition of the industrial parts and surface cleaning fair.
Areas of current interest that affect the cleaning of parts take in new and modi ed
production technologies, such as the growing use of adhesive bonding, laser welding and
coating processes, as well as additive manufacturing of components. In parallel, there is
increased demand for the cleaning of workpieces made from new materials or material
combinations, as well as complete assemblies. And then there are the tougher regulatory
requirements, such as those contained in the new European Medical Device Regulation
(MDR).
“parts2clean is the perfect place for businesses to gather the information they need
for positive changes,” says Olaf Daebler, global director of parts2clean at Deutsche
Messe. “The three-day Industry Forum is a favourite destination and, therefore, a must for
visitors,” he adds. “The programme of talks, available in simultaneous translation
German >< English, offers a wealth of valuable information about current trends and
innovations.” Organised in association with the Fraunhofer Cleaning Technology Alliance
and the German Industrial Parts Cleaning Association (FiT), this knowledge-sharing event
offers lecture-style talks and discussions on technology basics, strategies for optimising
processes and costs, quality assurance, best-practice applications, and the latest trends
and developments.
46 August 2019 www.machinery.co.uk @MachineryTweets
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