JANUARY 2020 MAINTENANCE
that will be used in washdown as it has better
corrosion resistance than other commonly
available grades.
Another crucial factor that must be considered
is how easy the equipment is to clean. Since the
whole point of washdown is to ensure cleanliness,
there is little point in specifying equipment
that has dirt traps and inaccessible areas that
are hard to cleanse eff ectively, despite the most
determined jetting.
The surface fi nish of the equipment can
also make a signifi cant diff erence to cleaning
eff ectiveness. For example, while the ordinary
surface fi nishes of stainless steel and other
materials look smooth to the naked eye,
examination under a microscope will reveal that
they are quite rough with peaks and troughs
that can harbour bacteria and other microscopic
contaminants, making these items very diffi cult
to remove.
A potential solution
Nanocoatings off er a solution to this problem.
These typically take the form of a clear liquid
containing specially developed nanoparticles that
incorporate both adhesion and anti-adhesion
components. The result is a tough abrasionresistant
coating with an ultra-smooth surface
that is highly resistant to
the build-up of soiling and
contaminants, making it very
easy to clean using highpressure
washdown techniques.
Nanocoatings are exceptionally
versatile and can be applied to
almost any type of equipment,
including enclosures, guards
and interlocks.
Since the whole point
of a washdown is to ensure
cleanliness, another crucial
factor that must be considered
is how easy the equipment is to
clean. There is obviously little
point in specifying equipment
that has dirt traps and
inaccessible areas that are hard
to cleanse eff ectively, despite
the most determined jetting.
Specifying equipment that
will be used in washdown areas
can be a challenging task. A
signifi cant investment of time
is required for careful planning
across the entire supply chain,
from initial specifi cation and
design of equipment to its
sourcing and installation, as
well as subsequent verifi cation
to ensure that it meets all
relevant standards and
regulations. However, this initial
eff ort will pay signifi cant longterm
dividends in a production
environment that requires highpressure
washdown.
“High-pressure washdowns
reduce water and detergent
usage – which reduces cost.”
Paul Taylor, head of industrial processes, TÜV SÜD
www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk 29
/www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk