TPI November 2022

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The trade magazine for tube and pipe products

November 2022

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Business & market news

BESA and TICA sound alarm about pre-insulated pipework installations

“One of the important lessons learned from the Grenfell tragedy was that products may have been tested and certified, but not necessarily for the particular application in question. We would, therefore, expect all responsible supply chain firms to be able to provide details of how the Euroclass fire rating of the PUR/PE system was achieved and the arrangement of the insulants in the test to determine their exposure to heat and flame,” he added. “We would also expect them to be able to provide clear evidence of compliance with BS 5422 heat loss/gain tables.” TICA’s technical policy manager Chris Ridge added that all responsible companies should be able to provide current Euroclass fire test certification for “the complete range of polyethylene pre-insulated pipework products”. “Looking ahead, we seek to challenge the wider industry to ensure that all pre-insulated systems meet the required standards,” he added. “This should not stop at pre-insulated pipework but should also include pre-insulated ductwork products.” BESA www.thebesa.com TICA www.tica-acad.co.uk

insulated pipework simply does not allow for the required flexibility to meet individual specification requirements,” the joint statement said. Both bodies are particularly concerned about the use of coiled flexible polyethylene insulated piping systems. “We have increasing evidence that these systems are being installed in high-risk buildings, such as large multi residential buildings,” they said. The statement reminded manufacturers, distributors, and installers of pre insulated polyethylene pipework systems that they had a responsibility to provide evidence of the suitability of these products for the specific application in question. Specifiers were also urged to check the thermal performance of the polyethylene system and to ask the supplier how it would meet the heat loss/gain requirements of BS 5422 and Part L of the Building Regulations. It is also vital that each product has the appropriate Euroclass fire rating, they said. “This is a critical fire safety issue and both bodies were determined to present a united front to help protect best practice in building services installations,” said BESA’s head of technical Graeme Fox. industry. He has developed and led the performance of numerous purchasing and sourcing teams in the USA, Canada, Egypt and the UK. Before arriving at McElroy, Mr Duerr was the western hemisphere strategic sourcing manager for TD Williamson in Tulsa, USA. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma Christian University. “Eric will be a valuable asset to our purchasing team, as we strive to continue exceeding the expectations of users of McElroy equipment,” said McElroy senior operations manager Philip Maud.

Two trade associations have called for more rigorous checks on the fire safety of pre-insulated pipework being installed in buildings. The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) and the Thermal Insulation Contractors Association (TICA) have issued a joint statement raising questions about the suitability of pipework that is normally used for underground and buried applications, such as primary heating networks, now being deployed inside buildings. They say this is a “fundamental change in product application” and takes the products outside the scope of the quality standards that are normally applied to their performance. Considering the current focus on fire safety in buildings, the two bodies were anxious to draw attention to this issue. They explained that building services pipe insulation specifications typically reflect the requirements of BS 5422 to ensure full compliance with the Building Regulations. However, pre-insulated pipework systems typically use either PUR or PE insulants, which do not meet the fire performance criteria typically specified for buildings. “In addition, the one-size-fits-all approach to insulation thickness typically undertaken by manufacturers of pre McElroy, a designer and manufacturer of thermoplastic fusion equipment, has appointed Eric Duerr as its new purchasing manager. “Since its founding, McElroy has remained committed to providing our clients with the highest-quality products, and that level of service begins with the sourcing process,” said McElroy president and CEO Chip McElroy. “Eric has a proven track record of success, and we are happy to have him come on board to lead our purchasing department.” Mr Duerr brings 15 years of procurement, sourcing, and inventory management experience, mainly in the oil & gas

McElroy welcomes Eric Duerr as new purchasing manager

Mr Duerr brings 15 years of procurement, sourcing and inventory management experience

As Mr Duerr transitions into his new role, he will be working closely with Mr Maud, who will be moving into a new role to focus on McElroy’s inventory, planning and execution processes. McElroy www.mcelroy.com

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Business & market news

Parker Hannifin receives low emissions certification for industrial ball and needle valves

year option. The contracts are due to commence between Q1 and Q3 2022. Andrew Wallace, Miros’ VP Offshore Solutions, said: “We are thrilled to expand our services further to Subsea 7 by equipping Miros WaveSystem to the Seven Waves, Seven Rio, and Seven Sun vessels.” “This is a testament to Miros’ expertise and reliability in delivering accurate wave measurements via our cloud based graphical user interface Miros app. Providing Subsea 7 access to real time wave and current data, which can be shared across departments is an important function for both onshore and vessel-based personnel and key to achieving a stem sealing system leak rate of 1.2 x 10 -6 and a test of 205 cycles at a test temperature of +160°C, achieving a stem sealing system leak rate of 1.0 x10 -6 . The H series needle valve successfully completed a test of 205 cycles at room temperature, achieving a stem sealing system leak rate of 2.0 x10 -6 . Both valves were tested using Helium as the test media. Parker’s Hi-Pro high-performance Class C ball valves offer full cold working pressure ratings up to 414 bar, giving 100 per cent bubble-tight shut-off and continuous repeatable performance. Featuring a true two-piece, quality assured design, body leakage paths are reduced to a minimum. The same quality and reliability is available from Parker’s H series Class C needle pattern hand valves, which allow precise flow regulation for a wide variety of media in low-flow applications. As standard, the needle valves have metal-to-metal seats to ensure 100 per cent bubble tight shut-off. Both valve series feature fully integrated tube connections utilising either Parker’s superior advantage of proprietary A-LOK ® (two-ferrule) or CPI™ (single ferrule) fitting technologies. This important technical feature not only

Miros Group has secured a trio of three year agreements with Subsea 7 to install its internet of things (IoT) dry-sensor WaveSystem. As part of project requirements for the monitoring of wave and current to a water depth of 10m, WaveSystem will be installed on three of Subsea 7’s pipelay support vessels – Seven Waves, Seven Rio and Seven Sun – alongside access to Miros Cloud services delivering real time sea state data. The award for Miros follows an agreement between Subsea 7 and Petrobras in Brazil for new long term, day-rate vessel contracts. Each contract comprises a three year period plus a subsequent one Parker Hannifin, a motion and control technologies company, has unveiled a series of valves tested to ISO 15848-1 Class C, a standard that sets out the measurement, test and qualification procedures for fugitive emissions from industrial valves. The Class C valves complement Parker’s existing solutions for the more stringent Class A and B leak rate designations, while minimising investment required by the customer. For companies operating in the chemical, petrochemical or natural gas industries, the reasons for minimising emissions to the atmosphere from industrial valves include environmental targets, government regulations and plant/worker safety. An independent test house witnessed and certified the full factory tests accordingly. To achieve ISO 15848-1 Class C certification, a valve must demonstrate less than a certain leak rate over a predefined number of operations (cycles). Furthermore, the valve must remain within this limit while enduring predefined temperature fluctuations. Both Parker Hi-Pro ball valves and H series needle valves met the criteria and now carry certification to ISO 15848-1 Class C. The Hi-Pro ball valve successfully completed a test of 205 cycles at a test temperature of -50°C,

Parker’s Hi-Pro high-performance Class C ball valves offer full cold working pressure ratings up to 414 bar

facilitates rapid installation, but also eliminates the need for taper threads and thread sealant and, in turn, the potential for an external leak path. This can further reduce overall plant emissions. Another technical feature of the valves that supports ISO 15848-1 Class C accreditation is a robust design of packing around the stem. The stem within industrial valves is a moving part, so a sturdy surrounding sealing concept is critical to prevent leaks during motion and in enduring the number of cycles and temperature fluctuations set out in the ISO 15848-1 Class C standard. With this development, process plants, system integrators and natural gas distributors can take advantage of Parker ISO 15848-1 Class C certified ball and needle valves that help to minimise emissions and increase safety.

Parker Hannifin www.parker.com

Miros Group wins trio of sensor contracts with Subsea 7 pipelay support vessels

ensure safe and efficient operations at all times.” Filipe Salvio, operations manager at Subsea 7, added: “The cloud-enabled WaveSystem onboard our three pipelay support vessels allows us to deliver the best service to our customer indepen dently of offshore weather conditions. This system provides us with accurate wave, current and speed through water data granting us to work safe, precise and highly effective at all times”. Miros Group www.miros-group.com Subsea 7 www.subsea7.com

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Business & market news

DNV and Pipeline Infrastructure collaborate to integrate hydrogen into gas network assets in India

networks. DNV is pleased to play a role in this by supporting PIL to transition its gas network to incorporate blended hydrogen to support local industries. In doing so, DNV will leverage its technical expertise and methodology to help our clients meet their emission reduction goals while retaining the use of their existing infrastructure,” said Brice Le Gallo, vice-president and regional director APAC, Energy Systems at DNV. DNV’s experience in assessing the impacts on gas pipelines of using hydrogen at different blending ratios will help PIL and give them technical advice on the readiness of its infrastructure to incorporate hydrogen. DNV will also help PIL assess the suitability of its existing network and related assets to incorporate hydrogen at a range of blending levels. DNV www.dnv.com Pipeline Infrastructure Limited www.pipelineinfra.com

2021, targeting 5 million tonnes per annum of hydrogen production by 2030. In conjunction with fiscal support and other incentives, the mission aims to leverage the nation’s significant renewable energy potential to transform India into a green hydrogen hub, help meet national climate goals and enable India to become a major producer and exporter of hydrogen to Japan, South Korea and Europe. According to DNV’s Energy Transition Outlook 2021, demand for hydrogen in the Indian subcontinent will reach 25 million tonnes per annum by 2050. As a basis for green hydrogen production, the report also shows strong predicted growth in renewable generation in India, particularly solar photovoltaics, wind and hydro power, which will make up 65 per cent of the country’s electricity generation mix by 2050. “Repurposing natural gas pipelines for Hydrogen is 10 to 30 per cent of the cost of building new pure hydrogen

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is providing technical advice and support to Pipeline Infrastructure Limited (PIL) on the integration of blended hydrogen into its gas trunkline assets in India – including transmission pipelines, interconnects and spur lines, compressor, valve and metering stations and equipment. Akhil Mehrotra, managing director and CEO, PIL said: “The hydrogen industry in India is still in its infancy and has a huge scope to supplement the growing energy needs while supporting the shift to a cleaner environment. Backed by strong governmental support for clean energy and significant renewable energy potential, India has the unique opportunity to become a major producer and exporter of Hydrogen.” PIL’s initiative is one of the first hydrogen blended related projects in the transmission space in India, aligned with the government’s launch of India’s National Hydrogen Mission in August

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Business & market news

Pipe trade group signs MOU to strengthen geothermal industry and boost decarbonisation

seen how PPI’s input specifically related to plastic piping materials can assist IGSHPA members. Several PPI member firms are also members of IGSHPA.” Part of PPI’s mission is to educate the geothermal industry about correct usage of plastic piping materials HDPE, PEX, PE-RT and PP. “It is important that geothermal engineers have access to accurate information about these pipe materials. There are ideal applications for each of these materials, when utilised correctly,” Mr MacNevin said. “The MOU with IGSHPA will help to accelerate our goal to deliver accurate and thorough information about these systems, so that the best pipe material can be selected for each application.” Mr MacNevin said that within his division, the Geothermal Steering Committee focuses on specific industry related issues. “This group is dedicated just to the geothermal industry that includes helping to update standards and codes. Plus, it publishes documents about the use of plastic piping systems for geothermal applications, and serves as a technical resource for geothermal system designers, with regards to plastic piping technologies.” The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc www.plasticpipe.org

to participate in and comment on proposed standards, guidelines, policies, and position statements on technical subjects, encouraging members in each organisation to collaborate on technical committees and task forces, and establishing liaison representatives to key technical committees. Recognising the important role that research plays in accelerating the transformation to a more sustainable built environment, PPI and IGSHPA also agree to identify and collaborate in the development of projects related to the design and construction of efficient and long-lasting piping systems for geothermal applications. They will also promote research in areas where results will add to the body of knowledge in conservating natural resources, increasing energy efficiencies and sustainability. “PPI has enjoyed a close relationship with IGSHPA for a number of years,” said Lance MacNevin, P. Eng, director of engineering for PPI’s Building & Construction Division (BCD). “IGSHPA’s scope of work related to geothermal exchange systems is very much in line with PPI’s scope of work. Since becoming a member of IGSHPA in 2008, I have benefitted from the resources made available to their members and have

The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc (PPI) and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) have announced a Memorandum of Understanding that will advance the benefits both organisations provide to the geothermal exchange industry. David Fink, president, PPI and Jeff Hammond, executive director IGSHPA, made the joint announcement virtually from their respective headquarters. The purpose of the geothermal heat pump industry is to promote a sustainable and decarbonised future across the globe through the adoption of geothermal as the cleanest, most efficient heating and cooling technology. Established in 1950, PPI is the non profit North American trade association representing the plastic pipe industry and its members through research, education, technical expertise and advocacy. Founded in 1987, IGSHPA is a non-profit, member-driven organisation established to advance ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology on local, state, national, and international levels. “For more than 70 years, PPI and our members have focused on the development of plastic pipes and fittings, which are the vital connection to the earth and bodies of water for geothermal exchange systems,” Mr Fink said. “We have always sought ways to work with other like-minded groups to amplify the benefits to the industry. Our work with IGSHPA has been highly rewarding, and we are looking forward to doing even more.” “This is a very exciting time in the ground source heat pump industry,” added Mr Hammond. “In 2020, IGSHPA became an independent non-profit, no longer part of Oklahoma State University. We see utilities, building owners, governments and many others recognising that ground source (geothermal) systems are the best technical solution for reducing energy costs and carbon emissions for heating and cooling buildings. The geothermal industry needs sound technical leadership and guidance and IGSHPA is striving to meet those needs. The collaboration with PPI couldn’t have come at a better time.” One of the key components of the MOU is technical development, where PPI and IGSHPA agree to foster technical cooperation by providing opportunities

The purpose of the geothermal heat pump industry is to promote a sustainable and decarbonised future across the globe

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Business & market news

INEOS and SINOPEC sign deals worth $7bn INEOS and SINOPEC have signed three back-to-back deals worth a combined value of $7bn. These agreements are expected to generate a combined turnover of around $10bn from 7 million tonnes of capacity. The three agreements will significantly reshape INEOS’ petrochemicals production and technology in China. ABS, to meet rapidly growing demand in China. The 600ktpa ABS plant in Ningbo, which is currently under construction by INEOS Styrolution, and is planned to be operational by the end of 2023, will become part of the joint venture.

acquisition of the Acetyls and Aromatics business from BP in January 2021, and both companies know each other well through two decades of commercial interfaces at various levels. They see a natural fit to working more closely in the future. Through this close relationship SINOPEC gains access to some of the best downstream technology in the world from INEOS and INEOS achieves a substantial presence in China, the fastest growing market in the world. Jim Ratcliffe, chairman and CEO INEOS, said: “These agreements significantly reshape INEOS’ petrochemical production and technology in China. We are pleased to make these major investments with SINOPEC in areas that provide the best growth opportunities for both companies. Both parties recognise the potential for closer collaboration across a number of other areas as we look ahead.” INEOS www.ineos.com SINOPEC www.sinopecgroup.com

INEOS and SINOPEC also plan to work together on two additional 300ktpa ABS plants, which will also be built by the joint venture based on INEOS’ Terluran ® ABS technology. One of these 300kt plants will be located in Tianjin. The location of the third unit is yet to be decided. The third agreement will see INEOS and SINOPEC also establish a 50:50 joint venture to build a new 500ktpa HDPE plant in Tianjin. In addition to the Tianjin plant INEOS and SINOPEC will build at least two additional 500ktpa HDPE plants in the future to produce INEOS pipe grade under license. The Tianjin plant is expected to be onstream by the end of 2023. INEOS already has joint ventures in operation with SINOPEC following the

INEOS has agreed to acquire a 50 per cent stake in Shanghai SECCO Petrochemical Company Limited (SECCO), a subsidiary of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (SINOPEC). SECCO currently has a production capacity of 4.2 million tonnes of petrochemicals – including ethylene, propylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile, butadiene, benzene and toluene. It is a 200-hectare facility, located inside the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park. INEOS has also agreed to establish a new 50:50 joint venture with SINOPEC with the intent to build production capacity of up to 1.2 million tonnes of

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Tubacex consolidates its recovery with expansion The Tubacex Group, which provides tubular solutions globally, has presented its results for the first half of the year having consolidated its growth. Company sales for the first half of the year have amounted to €353.8M, doubling those obtained in the same period last year, with profit before tax of €10.4M compared with a loss of €28M in the first half of 2021. The EBITDA for the second quarter has amounted to €23.4M, which is the highest quarterly EBITDA since the last quarter of 2007. The accumulated EBITDA for the year stands at €42.5M with a margin of 12 per cent, in line with the strategic objective set in June. These results highlight the success of the Tubacex strategy in a market environment characterised by inflationary pressure. return to normality and profit in all of the group companies. “Our good positioning in the market has led to order intake in this first half of the year being very good in all high value-added products, such as OCTG, umbilicals, fertilisers, nuclear and other highly-demanding applications, for which our special materials are required,” said Jesús Esmorís, CEO of Tubacex. This order, along with others obtained recently from Exxon and Petrobras, makes Tubacex one of the world’s leading manufacturers of this product for gas. These are added to other agreements reached by the company in the past few months, which, as a whole, increases its backlog to more than €1,500m, a historic record for the company. These products are manufactured at the group plants all over the world, with significant orders mainly in Italy, the US, Austria or the Basque Country, although a major part will be produced at the new plant in Abu Dhabi.

The sales strategy followed in recent years has made it possible to access different framework agreements with the leading players in the industry, enabling it to be positioned wherever its demand may be. An example of this is the agreement entered into recently with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) for a value in excess of 30,000 tons over a period of ten years for the supply of comprehensive solutions for gas extraction in the Middle East, and which involves the construction of a new plant in Abu Dhabi, the first one to manufacture OCTG in the Middle East.

The past seven years of drastic cutbacks in investment, along with the current supply crisis, are leading to the general reactivation of the energy market. Furthermore, gas and nuclear power, segments that require Tubacex’s most demanding products, are key in the medium term. Tubacex www.tubacex.com

In recent years, the company has promoted its geographic expansion and sectoral diversification and has also reorganised its production with a product mix tailored to the profile of each of the group’s 20 plants around the world. This strategy has boosted Tubacex’s growth and has enabled it to

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Higher refuelling capacity for hydrogen drive with new On Tank Valve innovation Poppe + Potthoff has announced that its On Tank Valve has successfully completed final tests according to EC 79. Fuel cell technology makes an important contribution to achieving an emission-free future. Hydrogen can be used in both mobile and stationary applications and in this way contributes significantly to the energy transition. The fuel cell has advantages over electric mobility: the smaller battery of the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) allows a greater range with a higher payload compared to battery electric vehicles (BEV). Another advantage is the much shorter refuelling time for FCEVs. Not only because of these advantages does the market for FCEVs offer great growth potential – Asia and the US in particular will rely on fuel cell technology in the future. For example, both China and California are aiming to have one million FCEVs in their fleets by 2030. In order to optimally utilise the advantages of a fuel cell drive, among other things, a reliable supply of hydrogen during operation and the shortest possible refuelling times are necessary. The valve attached to the H 2 tank plays an important role here. With the specially developed On Tank Valve (OTV), Poppe + Potthoff has released its new solution for use on the tank in mobile and stationary H 2 systems. The OTV can be attached to individual tanks or to a group of tanks via a distribution rail. Depending on the system configuration, the OTV thus enables serial and parallel filling of the tank cylinders. The innovative flow guidance reduces pressure losses and enables a higher refuelling speed compared to the standard of 60g/s discussed in the GTR13 standard for refuelling passenger cars. This brings advantages especially when used in commercial vehicles. In addition to the shorter refuelling time, weight optimisation of the modular OTV body is also one of the goals in the development of the OTV. Thus, a low weight of less than 1,300g and a compact design of 177mm diameter including the attachment of a solenoid valve could be achieved. The modular design of the OTV allows easy integration of additional components on the component. In order to enable good use, Poppe + Potthoff designed the OTV to be as user-friendly as possible. The component has a central connection for filling and removal, as well as an optional connection for a middle TPRD, while all cable outlets are bundled on one side. This design allows for easier assembly. Through repeated assembly simulations during development, the Poppe + Potthoff team was able to achieve good accessibility of the OTV. A special tool for assembly is also offered by Poppe + Potthoff. During the development of the OTV, the focus was on the requirements that customers place on such a component. This made it possible to develop a solution that reliably delivers the highest performance. The OTV is currently undergoing certification in Europe. Poppe + Potthoff www.poppe-potthoff.com

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19.06.18 15:23

Analysing and optimising tube handling, maintenance and cleaning processes By Doris Schulz, Ecoclean GmbH

The cleaning experts not only focus on the actual cleaning process and equipment, but also assess the overall manufacturing environment. The smallest change to the part, part spectrum or material, type of contamination, or modifications to upstream or downstream processes is enough to seriously impair cleaning results. Thin-film residues According to the cleaning experts, a poor cleaning result or one that does not meet new higher requirements is a “classic” reason for carrying out a process analysis. The first step is to identify the exact problem – are thin-film cleanliness specifications not being fulfilled or are there stains on the parts? If staining is the problem, one of the questions to be asked is whether the quantity and composition of the contaminants (processing media and other substances) have changed or whether the constituents and concentration of the cleaning medium are still appropriate. Other factors, such as rinsing water quality, bath treatment, process technology and process sequence, as well as the drying step, are also closely examined. These are further influencing variables that play a role if thin-film cleanliness results are unsatisfactory. Particulate cleanliness If the cleanliness analysis after the cleaning cycle shows that too many, or too large, particles are still adhering to the parts, this may also be due to the cleaning program and process sequence used. Possible causes include residual particles in the working chamber or on the part carriers, an unsuitable filtration system or a clogged filter. Sometimes, it is the wrong choice of cleaning containers, such as crates made of

Cleaning processes often offer considerable potential for improvement when it comes to making parts cleaning operations more reliable, economical and sustainable. The first step is to carry out a systematic process analysis that also takes a close look at upstream and downstream production steps. To ensure the quality of subsequent process steps, avoid rejects and guarantee the functionality of the end product, consistent parts cleanliness is an essential quality criterion. Ever stricter or even modified cleanliness specifications must be met. In addition, demands on the speed, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of the cleaning process are constantly rising. However, how well, fast and efficiently the cleaning work is carried out depends not only on the equipment, the process technology and the medium used, but also on factors relating to the cleaning process itself. Process analysis So what do you do if parts suddenly come out of the system stained, if specifications for particulate or thin-film cleanliness are no longer met, the cleaned parts arrive at the customer’s corroded, or cleaning is too slow/too cost-intensive? In the case of these and other problems, a systematic process analysis such as that carried out by the Ecoclean Academy at Ecoclean GmbH can pinpoint the root cause of the error.

Thanks to systematic process analysis, which also includes the analysis of upstream and downstream production steps, sources of error and potential for improvement can be quickly identified

Regular inspection and maintenance of machine components such as filters are essential factors when it comes to meeting particulate cleanliness requirements in a consistent and economical manner

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SBS Ecoclean Group The SBS Ecoclean Group develops, produces and markets machinery, systems and services for industrial part cleaning and surface treatment applications. These solutions help companies around the globe to manufacture their products efficiently and sustainably in high quality. Customers come from the automotive and supplier industry, as well as the broad industrial market – from medical, micro and precision engineering through mechanical engineering and the optical industry to power engineering and the aviation industry. The group has 12 locations in nine countries throughout the world and employs more than 900 people.

perforated galvanised sheet metal, which hinders the efficient and reliable detachment and removal of the particles. This type of crate blocks ultrasonic waves and prevents them from developing their full effect on the wash load. Likewise, the spray pressure does not reach the inside of the perforated crates. Compared to baskets made of round wire, a further problem is that the cleaning medium does not drip off these crates as effectively. This may result in the unwanted transfer of contaminants and/or cleaning chemicals. In any case, much longer and thus more energy-intensive drying processes are required. A further cause of a failed cleanliness inspection is often burrs that are still attached to the parts, which detach when the parts are handled during the residual contamination check and then show up on the particle filter. If these particles are examined under a microscope, it can be determined whether they are chips or burrs. If the latter is the case, upstream processes must be evaluated to find out where

the burrs occur and how their formation can be avoided. Particulate cleanliness can also be impaired by magnetism that is “bought in” with raw materials or arises during the manufacturing process. Magnetism binds chips to the parts and hinders or prevents their removal during the cleaning process. Handling parts However, the cleaning process is not over when the parts come out of the machine with the required level of cleanliness. To prevent recontamination or corrosion, which can occur even with preserved or passivated parts, it is important to look at how parts are handled after the cleaning step. The following questions need to be answered: where, how and for how long are the parts stored? How are they transported to the next processing step? What kind of packaging is needed for this? In addition, high cleanliness requirements often make it necessary for processes such as internal transport, assembly or packaging to be performed in a clean environment or cleanroom. The cleaning process Besides cleaning problems, modified cleaning programs can be a further reason for carrying out a process analysis. The aim is generally to shorten process times or enhance the cleaning result. As always, the analysis starts by documenting the actual state, which includes verifying the process parameters, process sequence and process times. Based on the analysis results, potential for improvement can be identified and appropriate measures can be defined. These may include modernising the system, such as by retrofitting or upgrading ultrasonic equipment. Qualified personnel It is essential that the parts cleaning staff are involved in the process analysis and optimisation measures. Raising staff awareness about cleanliness, as well as about the capabilities of the cleaning technology and the impact of parameter settings on the cleaning result, is a key factor. If there is a change of personnel, it is also important that knowledge of how the cleaning system works and how, for example, bath treatment measures or regular maintenance work on the cleaning system are carried out is passed on. Otherwise, problems that had been eliminated in the past may occur again. Investing in the training and continuing education of cleaning staff is therefore a cornerstone in order to achieve reliable cleanliness requirements in an economical and sustainable manner. The Ecoclean Academy therefore also combines process analyses with classic training courses.

Key to reliable, efficient and sustainable cleaning processes are well-trained staff who understand how the cleaning system works and how, for example, bath treatment measures or regular maintenance work on the cleaning system are carried out

Photo credit: Ecoclean GmbH

In many cases, retrofitting/upgrading the cleaning system with process technology, for example with ultrasonics, makes it possible to consistently achieve the required results and to shorten cleaning times

Ecoclean GmbH www.ecoclean-group.net

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