Manufacturing businesses rely on a variety of equipment to create products specific to their industries. These machines might be exposed to high levels of dust, dirt, grease and other particles. These particles could get on products and cause problems during production.
The machines may be exposed to dirt and grime every day. The particles build up within the components of the machines, causing them to wear down or prevent them from working at their maximum potential. Some industries like semiconductor manufacturing require that no contaminants be allowed on the floor. These clean rooms remove any particles from the workers’ clothing and shoes.
Clean rooms and industrial machines can be maintained by process equipment cleaning. The type of operation, cleaning requirements, and contaminants found in the work area will determine the cleaning equipment used by workers. Your operations can be run smoothly and avoid costly downtimes by following the correct cleaning procedures. Innovative pressurized cleaning tools allow workers to direct water and air to hard-to reach places in order to remove dirt and grime buildup from components, products, or work surfaces.
How to effectively clean and maintain industrial manufacturing equipment
Facility managers should assess the machine types in their workplace. This will allow you to assess how frequently the machine is being used, and any chemicals or dirt that might be affecting its operation. Also, evaluate the machine’s components and determine the best cleaning methods.
Some equipment can handle strong cleaning methods, while some equipment requires specialized cleaning to avoid damage to delicate components. After assessing the cleaning needs of your facility, you can determine the best cleaning method. Among the cleaning options you could use are:
Industrial decontamination is the process of removing substances with deep cleaning tools. There are two options for decontaminating the space: using chemicals to remove existing contaminants, or physically removing them. In clean rooms, decontamination can be done to eliminate foreign substances from entering products and processes.
Industrial Vacuuming – This vacuuming uses reverse air pressure in order to lift any particles or contaminants off surfaces. It can be used on walls, floors, equipment and products. You can find industrial vacuums in many forms, including stationary vacuums and mobile vacuums. There are also vacuum systems where workers take hoses off the walls that are connected to the main central system.
Hydro blasting: Also known as pressure washing, hydro blasting uses high-pressure water to remove contaminants from products, components, and machines. This process is most commonly used to remove lead paint and other hazardous substances. It can also be used to reach difficult-to-reach machines.
In order to reduce downtime, you should create a cleaning plan for equipment that is most compatible with the operation of the facility. The company has developed cleaning policies and procedures that are specific to each piece of equipment. Workers must follow these guidelines.
Use pressure washers and water cannons
Pressure washers and water cannons are used to clean a variety of substances off equipment in indoor and outdoors environments. When machines are clogged with grease or grime, workers often use this equipment.
The high pressure washers can be used on a smaller scale and are easily portable. The water pressure can be as low at 2.2 gpm (gallons/minute) as it can go up to 10 gpm. These machines may be used on shop floors by workers to remove dirt from delicate parts and details. In some industrial processes, pressure washers are used to clean the products of grease, dirt, or chemicals before they can move down the production line.
Water cannons have larger systems and nozzles which remove large quantities dirt from the water stream. These cannons can be used in outdoor areas to remove dirt, grease and chemicals from large machinery, storage tanks and heavy equipment. Water pressures generated by water cannons can range from 20 gpm up to more than 150 gpm.
Get Preventive Maintenance for Your Cleaning Equipment
After you have used the process cleaning equipment, check the machines for excessive wear or damage. Repair or replace any damaged equipment. Make sure to test the equipment before you use it. The wrong pressure from cleaning equipment can damage machines or cause the equipment to not clean completely.
You can keep your tank cleaning nozzle machines running smoothly by scheduling preventive maintenance. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding maintenance and lubricants.
Track and use your data
Technological advances have made it possible for industrial equipment to be connected to each other and to monitoring systems. Equipment transmits real-time data about their operations. By collecting and analysing this data, you can track both the operational equipment and process cleaning equipment. Anomalies in the data can alert workers to equipment problems. This data can be used to create cleaning plans and do immediate maintenance.
The equipment data could also reveal inefficiencies in operation due to the general working environment. Equipment that is showing excessive wear from contaminants in the workplace may require additional cleaning or ventilation.