Shop cleans up with small washer

July 1, 2004
Sheetmetal fabricator Morton Metalcraft Co., Birchwood, Ill., slashes chemical costs, prolongs wash-bath life, and reduces sludge deposits by recycling alkaline cleaner through a relatively small aqueous cleaning system.

Sheetmetal fabricator Morton Metalcraft Co., Birchwood, Ill., slashes chemical costs, prolongs wash-bath life, and reduces sludge deposits by recycling alkaline cleaner through a relatively small aqueous cleaning system.

The system, called Washer Washer (WW) occupies less than 15 ft 2 of floorspace at Morton and extends the life of a 1,700-gallon first-stage bath from 3 to 18 months. It also reduces chemical expenses for that stage by 50% as compared to a 12-month period prior to the system. Morton's operations team adds that sludge in the bottom of the tank is as much as 75% less with the WW.

"This tiny system keeps my cleaner stage going, and despite initial doubts over its diminutive size — erased by a two-month pilot test — and small price tag, the WW works for us," says Ken Eberle, Morton's focus factory manager. "Not bad for a system costing less than $10,000," he adds.

Arbortech Corp.
McHenry, Ill.
arbortech.com