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This new parts-washing machine at ITW Highland combines immersion and spray cleaning with ultrasonics. Its small footprint—8.5 by 9ft.--requires minimal floor space and lends itself to a cellular configuration, and its simultaneous processing of four parts baskets ensures considerable throughput for its size.

Going Cellular for Parts Cleaning

In 2006, the company began investigating cellular, precision cleaning systems, and quickly decided to invest in a four-basket rotating-basket cellular washer system: a Lean Clean 360-4 from Jenfab (Jensen Fabricating Engineers, Inc.), Berlin, CT.

The machine’s Super Dryer fan recirculates 6000 ft.3/min. of hot air onto Highland’s stamped parts as they rotate past several high-velocity air slots. The high volume of air blowing through the parts evaporates water quickly, at lower temperatures and reduced energy consumption than with high-pressure blow offs. All of the air in the chamber recirculates at more than 150 times/ min., past the heating elements and back through the parts. The heater activates only as needed to maintain the temperature set point, reducing energy consumption by more than 75 percent compared to the use of high-pressure blow-offs, according to Jenfab officials. And since the air constantly recirculates, the washer system discharges a minimal amount of moisture into the plant.“Other major considerations in investing in the new cleaning line,” adds Rob Weber, Highland’s business unit manager, “were its efficient oil filtration, Jenfab’s experience with stamping environments similar to ours and the system’s ease of maintenance.” Highland’s maintenance schedule includes a weekly scrub-down, filter change and chip-basket cleaning. Since the system allows easy access to the filters and baskets for quick removal and replacement, the plant has realized higher throughput and reduced maintenance frequency, reports Weber. Further, the unit’s efficient, coalescing oil-removal system and large, 300-gal. tank also have maximized Highland’s chemical-maintenance intervals.

Ergonomics Appreciated

The rotating-basket cleaning system employs ergonomic, waist-high loading: Highland employees need not lower the baskets or lift them out of the cleaning chamber. Baskets rotate 360 deg. to submerge the stampings and expose all surfaces to an immersion wash and a powerful submerged spray.

The machine processes four baskets, side by side, per cycle. Its small footprint—8.5 by 9 ft.—requires minimal floor space and lends itself to a cellular configuration, and its simultaneous processing of four baskets ensures considerable throughput for its size.

ITW Highland specializes in deep-draw stamping of parts for products such as oxygen sensors, hardware components, airbags and writing instruments.

Installation at Highland was quick and simple, since all of utility connections are single-point. Upon spotting, minimal time is required to connect utilities. And, standard Allen Bradley Micro Logix PLC controls made start-up and programming relatively uncomplicated, reports Highland.

Cleanliness Next to Godliness for Highland’s Customers

ITW Highland manufactures a large volume of automotive components. In addition to its second-tier automotive customers, the company serves a line of commercial customers, including valve and appliance manufacturers. Specifications for cleanliness are to the particulate level for parts such as automotive fuel injectors. Typically, residual particulate extracted from a designated number of sample pieces is weighed to a customer specification. The company plans to accommodate even tighter specifications, to the micron level, in the future.

Weber, noting that ITW Highland processes an average of a half-million parts per day, says that while the new cleaning machine currently runs only one shift, Highland intends, early next year, to add a second shift to bring back inhouse some of its outsourced cleaning work. To handle the increased cleaning workload, a second Lean Clean 360 will be added to the firm’s equipment list. MF

Article submitted by Jensen Fabricating Engineers, Inc., Berlin, CT: tel. 860/828-6516; www.jenfab.com.