Parts Washing Services

Parts washing services remove grease, oil, dirt, soot and other contaminants from surfaces. They perform processes such as blasting, thermal cleaning, degreasing, oxygen cleaning, pickling, spray washing, immersion washing, mass finishing, stripping, and ultrasonic cleaning. Some parts washing services process new components or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Others restore damaged surfaces to a usable condition. Parts washing services are located across the United States and around the world. Many meet International Standards Organization (ISO) requirements or automotive, aerospace, military, or OEM specifications.

Parts washing services use a variety of systems, equipment, and techniques. Blasting uses a power sprayer or tumble chamber to remove all of a metal's visible rust, mill scale, paint and contaminants. Thermal cleaning systems use heat to remove grease, oil, paint or other organic compounds from the surfaces of parts. Degreasing uses a solvent or vapor to clean and remove organic compounds, as well as aqueous systems and greases that are insoluble in water. Oxygen cleaning removes combustible oils, greases or other materials that could cause an accidental fire or explosion when in contact with oxygen. Companies that perform pickling processes use etchants, acids, or acid pickles to remove a layer of surface material or sharp edges. Spray washers use pressure washing or rinsing capabilities to direct a stream of water or a water/detergent mixture at high pressure to clean or remove surface debris such as scale, rust, paint, dirt, grease, or abrasive dust. Mass finishing processes are used for bulk processing. In immersion tank cleaning systems or scrub tanks, parts are immersed in a tank where the cleaning bath is agitated with impellers or paddles, or the parts are scrubbed manually. Stripping and coating removal services remove paint, coatings, or plated layers using a solvent, chemical or mechanical process. Ultrasonic cleaning processes use immersion tanks in which the cleaning solution is vibrated at ultrasonic frequencies.

Parts washing services vary in terms of material processing capabilities and certification or quality requirements. Some companies process parts made from aluminum, copper, nickel, iron, cast iron, steel, stainless steel, and precious metals. Others process ceramics, metallized ceramics, composites, carbides, glass, plastics and polymers. Certification and quality requirements include ISO 9001:2000, ISO TS16949, AS 9100, and QS 9000. AS 9100 is a set of quality guidelines and requirements published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in cooperation with major aerospace manufacturers. QS 9000 is a quality standard for suppliers of DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation. Companies that meet U.S. military specifications (MIL-SPEC) and comply with OEM-specific requirements also provide parts washing services.

• How to Deal with “Rapid” Service Bureaus
  The best RP firms educate customers, turn parts around fast, and have a solid business history. Authored by Leslie Gordon, Senior Editor, Alpha Prototypes Inc., Bellingham, Wash., Astro Mfg. Design...
  (read more)
• Making water dance
  Designers are using engineering in the service of art, creating crowd-pleasing fountains and soothing waterscapes. To most people, water is for drinking, washing, and keeping their lawns green. To...
  (read more)

Pages: 1 - 3 of 508