TPT May 2023

TECHNOLOGY

Fronius uses hot active plasma for tube and plate surface cleaning

is immersed in chemicals. The use, storage, and disposal of the required chemicals is not only time consuming and expensive, but also problematic in terms of their impact on the environment. Such cleaning processes are also subject to strict safety requirements. A technology developed by Fronius can help: hot active plasma removes residues precisely, quickly, and effectively. It is suitable for metals such as aluminium and steel as well as plastic, glass and ceramic. The Acerios system generates a plasma flame on the welding torch with a temperature of up to 1,000°C, which a robot guides precisely over the surface at speeds of roughly 6m per minute. Depending on the requirements, entire

THE cleanliness of part surfaces is essential in production. To be able to carry out process steps such as welding, adhesion, sealing, painting, printing and brazing to a high standard, contamination must be removed prior. Industrial surface cleaning with Acerios, the hot active plasma technology from Fronius, is particularly environmentally friendly and cost effective. To be able to join individual aluminium parts to a side wall using spot welding when constructing an automotive body, the surface of the sheets must be freed from foreign particles or film impurities, otherwise a serious lack of fusion could arise. Up until now, the automotive industry has relied on chemical cleaning processes in which the component

surfaces or specific areas can be treated. This significantly increases efficiency, as instead of cleaning as much of the surface as possible, Acerios cleans only those areas that actually need cleaning. This technology comes without harmful cleaning additives, meaning it is environmentally friendly and saves resources. The system is compact and can be easily integrated into automated systems and production lines thanks to different interface variants

Fronius International GmbH www.fronius.com

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MAY 2023