Numerous industries rely on precision cleaning systems to remove oils, dust, and other contaminants from products during the manufacturing process. Until recently, the only cleaning option manufacturers in the medical, aerospace, data storage, semi-conductor, and automotive industry had was aqueous (water-based) cleaning.

 

The introduction of dry CO2 cleaning has forced many to abandon the old standard for a new cleaning solution. Here are seven reasons why you should too!

  1. Dry

The first thing and possibly the most important feature is that CO2 is completely dry. No solvent or water is added to clean, making it more efficient since there is no post drying needed after the cleaning. This is especially important when cleaning electronics since water can cause damage to the part. The CO2 used to clean the part evaporates, leaving the finished part dry and clean.

  1. Less Waste

CO2 cleaning, or carbon dioxide cleaning, uses recycled carbon dioxide to remove unwanted substances from the surface of precision devices. The CO2 is recaptured, while the contaminants are displaced, to be used for future cleaning cycles. By comparison, aqueous cleaning utilizes deionized water, chemicals, and other contaminants that may require disposal as hazardous waste.  It doesn’t make much sense for a cleaning process to result in the need for more cleaning, does it?

  1. Versatile

The clean, dry, CO2 process is adaptable to all types of existing machines. It is set up for manual or automated use to fit in any cleaning application. In other words, it is a viable option for both big manufacturers and much smaller operations.

  1. Saves Energy

We already mentioned that dry cleaning is much cleaner (or greener) than wet cleaning because it does not produce significant waste. The solid CO2 snow particles evaporate on contact leaving behind no mess. As such, there is no need for a drying cycle, saving on energy and time!

  1. Smaller Footprint

Aqueous systems have a very large footprint in a factory or manufacturing facility. CO2 cleaning can be easily retrofitted to the existing space reducing the footprint. The floor space that is saved can then be used to install more equipment that may improve productivity and increase output.

  1. Thorough

CO2 cleaning can remove particles as small as 0.2 to 0.3 microns. To understand just how minuscule that is, consider the fact that the average human hair is around 80 microns thick! Not to mention the fact that dry cleaning also cleans thin films, such as oils, fingerprints, and dust.

  1. Affordable

Because it can be used as an inline cleaning solution, there’s no need to remove components from the line and clean them manually. This automated cleaning feature helps save time and money on labor costs. It also negates the need to buy additional automation equipment for material handling and fixturing.

These are just a few of the reasons we believe that CO2 cleaning is vastly superior to aqueous cleaning…and we’re not alone! In recent years, countless industry leaders have made the switch from old, inefficient water-based systems to the more modern, eco-friendly alternative.

Can this improved method help your business be more efficient and environmentally friendly?  Get in touch and we’ll be happy to assess your needs and let you know how a custom-designed system can transform your operations.