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Automotive sector: components are subject to a consistently high degree of cleanliness
Supplier to the automotive industry uses EnviroFALK membrane technology to extend the service life of cleaning baths while reducing costs and maintaining a consistently high level of cleanliness.
Complex production processes place high demands on industrial parts cleaning. On the one hand, the process and cleaning baths, and on the other, the ongoing operating costs. What are the advantages of membrane technology in the treatment of active and rinsing baths and how can water as a resource be used efficiently?
Peter Wagner
Ultrafiltration system
Challenge for the customer
Extend a consistently high degree of cleanliness in the cleaning baths while reducing costs at the same time.
As a medium-sized company, a supplier to the automotive industry produces gas lances for head airbag systems. After sawing, the galvanized pipe material is cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaning system to remove contaminants such as metal particles, oils and emulsions. The high production volumes and the extensive metal particles that are washed off the parts meant that the system had to be emptied, cleaned and refilled on a weekly basis. In the past, this has led to considerable time-consuming and costly downtime. As the baths were also filled with city water, limescale had to be removed regularly. In this situation, the manufacturer turned to EnviroFALK.
The experts used a pilot plant and extensive trials to test treatment using an ultrafiltration system. The company was immediately convinced of the benefits!
- The components are now subject to a consistently high degree of cleanliness
- Maintenance work has been reduced by more than 90%
- The disposal costs of the active baths are now 10% of the original value
In addition, the intermediate and final rinses were equipped with an EnviroFALK rinse water circulation system, consisting of filtration, membrane process, ion exchange and UV treatment, which now continuously treats the water. The company benefits from:
- significantly lower water consumption and wastewater volumes
- Reduced operating costs through savings in temperature control and heat recovery
- efficient use of water as a resource
- high production profitability through the use of perfectly coordinated control concepts
Depending on the area of application and peak demand, the service life of process and cleaning baths can be significantly extended by selecting suitable membrane technology. At the same time, the components are subject to a consistently high degree of cleanliness. Optimum cleaning results lead to high product quality. In addition, the maintenance intervals of the cleaning baths are extended and cleaning media are saved.
In addition, the multiple use of water will play an even greater role in the future. By using resource-saving circulation technology, the rinsing water is systematically fed back into the process. This leads to savings in water and energy.
