Brass pressings manufacturer chooses Pero Degreaser

Bodill Choose Pero Degreaser Long Term road test for the 2500/0 Pero degreaser machine Technology road test: Pero 2500/0 closed-loop vapour degreasing machine. Supplier: Kumi Solutions Installed: June 2004 Customer: Bodill Parker Group Ltd, Tipton, West Midlands Core business: Subcontract precision pressings Shift pattern: Single shift Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine overview Closed-loop vapour degreasing machine with sub-zero air drying technology and PLC control. Rotary basket system with immersion, flooding, rinsing, ultrasonic and vapour cleaning cycles. Continuous vacuum distillation and filtration. Integrated parts handling system using automatic conveyors. Average cleaning duration for steel (50kg) = 4 minutes. Compliance with latest Solvent Emission Directive (SED). Built to CE standards. One of over 3000 Pero degreaser automatic cleaning and degreasing machines installed worldwide. Overall verdict on the Pero degreaser from Philip Sabin MD of Bodil Parker. Phil Sabin with his Pero 2500/0 solvent degreaserWith massive savings in solvent usage aiding a short payback period, the Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine makes sound financial sense. Throw in rapid throughput, enhanced cleanliness levels and happier customers and staff, and the degreasing machine proves itself a winner on all fronts. Replacing an aging ICI gas-fired, open degreasing unit, the Pero degreaser 2500/0 machine has made significant reductions in solvent usage at Bodill Parker. The previous, open-top system consumed 4,800 litres of trichloroethylene every year, whereas the Pero unit combined with the SAFE-TAINER(TM) system uses just 100 litres a year of perchloroethylene, equating to a savings of £11,000+ per annum. Solvent consumption is therefore reduced by more than 97%. Quality of cleanliness from the Pero degreaser machine Parts emerging from the Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine are described by managing director Philip Sabin as “exceptionally clean” and “bone dry.” Rolling oils and machine oils collected by the parts during pressing operations are removed using ultrasonically agitated DOWPER(TM) MC (perchloroethylene) supplied by SAFECHEM Europe. Components are manufactured from brass, phosphor bronze, copper alloy, steel, stainless steel and aluminium. “Every scrap of contamination is removed using the Pero,” says Mr Sabin. “We've had no complaints from customers, which is crucial because many parts are subject to further processes such as plating, rubber bonding or powder coating, where dirty components cannot be tolerated.” Pero Degreaser: – Speed/throughput Processing approximately 25 million precision pressings every year, keeps the Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine busy for between 35-40 hours every week. In a 12-month period Bodill Parker cleans around 17,000 baskets (370 x 220 x 200mm) filled with parts ranging from 12mm diameter washer-type components, up to 60mm diameter cup-sized parts, equating to approximately 250 tonnes of material per year. Typical cycle times for a fully loaded basket are around 4 minutes. Pero Degreasing Machine: – Reliability/maintenance “The reliability of the Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine has been very good,” states the machine’s operator Les Hayes. “During the course of the past four years we’ve rarely required external help. We carry a small number of spares at Tipton, and on the odd occasion that a problem does arise, we are normally able to undertake the work ourselves.” In terms of maintenance, Mr Hayes says that he simply checks the solvent stability and performs a few visual checks on a weekly basis. The task takes no more than a few minutes and have rarely uncovered any problems. Mr Sabin added “this machine has less downtime or maintenance requirements than any other machine we own, delivering machine availability in excess of 96%.” Pero Degreaser: – Health and safety As a closed-loop system, the Pero degreaser 2500/0 machine complies fully with the recently implemented Solvent Emissions Regulations and offers a marked improvement when compared to the open-top system it replaced. “Our previous unit discharged solvents outside the factory via a flue,” explains Mr Sabin, “but it was very inefficient and vapours escaped into the working environment. With the new closed-loop Pero system we have no cause for complaint. Using the MAXICHECK(TM) test kits and MAXISTAB(TM) stabiliser maintains solvent quality, insuring clean parts, a protected plant, and reduces further any physical contact with the solvents.” Pero Degreasing Machine: – Value/payback At a supplied price of less than £44,000, Mr Sabin says that payback on the Pero 2500/0 degreasing machine has already been achieved, on the strength of solvent reduction alone, in under 4 years.