Valve manufacturer cleans better and faster

Valve manufacturer cleans better and fasterKeywords: Kerry Ultrasonics, Ultrasonic

An ultrasonic cleaning system from Kerry Ultrasonics is reported to be helping one of the world's leading manufacturers of pneumatic valves to maximize productivity. The high-speed, automated machine is said to have significantly reduced reject rates at IMI Norgren Limited, where it is used to clean small valve components made of brass, aluminium and stainless steel.

IMI Norgren's UK plant in Lichfield, Staffordshire produces pneumatic valves for a wide range of process control and general industrial applications. Newly-machined valve components are thoroughly cleaned of oil and swarf by Kerry's Microclean Compact C300 system (see Plate 3). This is fitted with an Autotrans Mk 4 robotic work transporter to ensure rapid throughput and consistent, repeatable quality. According to Kerry, as well as being fast and efficient, the aqueous Microclean system has no ozone depletion potential, no toxicity and no environmental impact.

  Plate 3 An ultrasonic cleaning system from Kerry Ultrasonics is helping IMI Norgen, one of the world's leading manufacturers of pneumatic valves, to maximize productivity

Kerry cleaning equipment was introduced at IMI Norgren to replace a detergent-based system. "It left a thin, sticky film of detergent on the parts", explains process engineer Ray Bower, "which attracted contamination and led to high reject rates". Tests on components cleaned by the new Compact machine, however, have revealed a residual particulate contaminant level of 0.1mg per component, well within IMI Norgren's target level. With two rinse stages, both incorporating Kerry's Hydroflow spray under immersion feature, detergent residues are no longer thought to be an issue.

Previously, the company had also used a trichloroethane-based system which involved the time-consuming process of attaching components to jigs before cleaning. In contrast, the Kerry system simply requires the operator to place components into a basket before starting the pre-programmed work transporter.

Details are available from Kerry Ultrasonics Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1462 450761;Fax: +44 (0)1462 420712; E-mail: stephanie_healey@kerry.co.uk