Mirachem Parts Washer Service

Mirachem® has over 25 years of success providing the best industrial parts cleaning fluid available. Whether you use a manual parts washer, an automated cabinet washer, an inline or pass-through spray washer, or a traditional dip or soak tank, Mirachem’s aqueous cleaner / degreaser technologies can provide better product performance, advanced material compatibility, improved worker safety and unmatched regulatory compliance.

What Is Parts Cleaning?
The term “parts cleaning” is a general description applied to any cleaning application that involves cleaning and degreasing of component parts, in some kind of washer or tank (often called a parts washer, parts cleaner, wash tank, soak tank, dip tank, scrub tub or cleaning equipment) that holds cleaning fluids. Parts cleaning is usually distinguished from other applications because it involves the removal of component pieces for cleaning, as opposed to items being cleaned as they are normally assembled/constructed, which is called cleaning in place.

These processes are also commonly called:

parts washing
tear-down cleaning
overhaul cleaning
component cleaning
assembly cleaning
process cleaning
maintenance cleaning
repair cleaning
new part manufacture cleaning

Some examples of where parts cleaning activity can be found include:

Automotive Repair Facilities - applications such as carburetor rebuilding or engine tear down and rebuild.
Building / Physical Plant - in repair and maintenance of machinery, equipment, tools, forklifts, paint shops, etc.
Manufacturing - for cleaning of machined or fabricated parts and/or equipment care.

Parts cleaning is among the most common of all cleaning applications. In terms of total non-household cleaning product usage, parts washing fluid is third behind floor cleaners and janitorial all-purpose cleaners, and first in total usage for “industrial cleaning” applications.

Parts Cleaning Product Technologies
Traditionally, those engaged in industrial parts cleaning have used solvent parts washers. These simple sink-on-a-drum or scrub tub style units usually contain between 15 and 80 gallons of a petroleum distillate or chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent, and provide functional parts cleaning capability. Use of a solvent parts washer also involves several risks and liabilities that are present in any solvent cleaning application.

Also available to those needing industrial parts cleaning are enzyme, microbial or “bio” product chemistries. Enzyme parts washers are typically smaller units, usually in the 20 – 40 gallon range, and are used in soaking or light-duty cleaning applications. In many areas, enzyme technologies offer improved safety characteristics when compared to solvent chemistries, however the long-term environmental and chronic health effects of enzyme parts cleaning systems are not well documented.

Aqueous parts washing fluids have also become increasingly popular in recent years. Usually based on high-alkaline chemistries, these water-based products have been in use for many years and are well understood, and offer fire safety and air quality advantages over other technologies. However, traditional high-alkaline products can present material compatibility problems (rust, corrosion, damage to finishes, material integrity, etc.) and often deliver inferior cleaning performance, as well as some worker exposure risks.

Mirachem’s cleaner / degreaser products are aqueous technologies that provide a superior alternative to solvent, enzyme and traditional alkaline chemistries. These products deliver outstanding cleaning performance and material compatibility, without the worker safety and environmental compliance risks associated with more traditional chemistries.

Mirachem products that may be used in parts cleaning applications include: (click for more info)

Parts Cleaning Processes and Equipment
Much of the success of any parts cleaning application will depend not only on the right cleaning product, but also on the actual cleaning process and the associated parts washers and equipment. The cleaning process is usually centered around the parts washing equipment used. There are several general categories of parts cleaners. These include:

Manual Parts Washers are usually of one of two types; either sink-on-a-drum style washers or soak/scrub tubs. These units provide a reservoir for the cleaner / degreaser product, and often provide heat, fluid flow or other elements of efficient aqueous cleaning.

These units will use the Mirachem 500 Cleaner / Degreaser, Mirachem Pressroom Cleaner / Degreaser or Mirachem Commercial Parts Washer Fluid.

Semi-Automatic Agitating Parts Washers (also called agitating washers, agi-lifts) are designed to deliver improved cleaning performance and labor savings through increased automation. These units are loaded in batches and typically set to run a timed cleaning cycle while the operator performs other tasks. Increased performance is usually delivered through a moving shelf to provide additional fluid flow to reach into crevices and small spaces, reducing operator's time standing over the sink. The shelf can be lowered to function in a soak capacity as well.

These units will use the Mirachem 500 Cleaner / Degreaser, Mirachem Pressroom Cleaner / Degreaser or Mirachem Commercial Parts Washer Fluid.

Batch Loaded Semi-Automatic Parts Washers (also called cabinet washers, spray washers) provide increased cleaning production and cost savings through batch loading units. Similar to a dishwasher, the unit is loaded, door is closed and cycle is set. Cleaning is done with rotating turntables or baskets and cleaning product is applied via spray bars. When the cycle is complete, the parts are clean and ready for the next step. Many standard units are available in both top load and front load styles. These units reduce worker time spent on cleaning, therefore reduce worker safety risks as well.

These units will use Mirachem Commercial Alkaline Cabinet Wash or Mirachem 750 Low Foam Cleaner / Degreaser.

Automatic Parts Washers (also called pass through washers, conveyor washers or in-line washers) deliver maximum cleaning effectiveness and cost savings through the complete automation of the parts cleaning process. Automated parts washers can be built from the ground-up as custom units, or modular semi-custom units that control all of the elements of efficient aqueous cleaning. These units can also assist in the areas of corrosion management, product cost control, environmental safety, and worker safety. Usually only appropriate for large, production line type operations, automated washers are typically expensive, but can essentially eliminate the labor cost of parts cleaning.

These units will use Mirachem Commercial Alkaline Cabinet Wash or Mirachem 750 Low Foam Cleaner / Degreaser.

Ultrasonic Cleaning is a specialized method of parts washing that can be incorporated into most parts washing equipment. In ultrasonic cleaning, sound waves are passed through a reservoir of cleaning fluid, creating “waves” in the solution. The passing of these waves creates voids or “pockets” in the bath, which are immediately filled, violently, by the surrounding fluid. This process is called cavitation, and in effect, is providing agitation, almost at the molecular level. Ultrasonic cleaning is excellent for small parts cleaning, or parts washing items that have small orifices or other hard to reach areas.

These units will use the Mirachem 500 Cleaner / Degreaser, Mirachem Pressroom Cleaner / Degreaser or Mirachem Commercial Parts Washer Fluid.

The parts cleaning process also incorporates the steps before and after the actual parts washing. These steps may include assembly / disassembly, inspection, corrosion management, pre-cleaning, surface preparation, drying, etc. Often, the cleaning process can be more important than the products and equipment that are used in the process. Therefore, no parts cleaning application should be looked at without evaluating the entire process.

Parts Washer Service Programs
In addition to a high performance cleaning product, such as Mirachem 500 Cleaner / Degreaser, the parts washing application also frequently involves a need for fluid management services, appropriate parts washing equipment , waste transportation and disposal or equipment repair and maintenance.

For more information on a full-service Mirachem Parts Washer Service partner in your area, click here.

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