Customer orders another Pero degreaser for precision turned parts cleaning

Parts cleaning turns the screw on VOC Tenable Screw parts cleaning demands continued success When the VOC solvent emissions regulations (SER) came into force on 31 October 2007, turned parts specialist Tenable Screw Co Ltd had already decided to take early measures to avoid potential fines by replacing an aging 22 year old Pero degreaser with a new Pero V1 universal parts cleaning solvent degreaser. They ordered their Pero V1 universal parts cleaning solvent degreaser from the sole UK agent, Kumi Solutions Ltd. “This particular machine simply didn’t meet the emissions,” states Norman Runciman, facilities manager. “We have a number of Pero machines already, and they perform really well, so it was a fairly natural choice to acquire the Pero V1 parts cleaning machine from Kumi Solutions Ltd as a replacement.” The SER restricts emissions from organic solvents to limit worker exposure and to protect health. Companies failing to comply with the emission limits set under the SER will face investigation and possible prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive. Firms may also face increasing compensation claims for associated health problems from affected employees, as well as hefty fines. Pero parts cleaning solvent systems reduce VOC emissions to below that of the incoming regulations and are, in fact, built to the tighter German laws 31 BImSchV and 2 BImSchV. All US and European emission regulations are surpassed. V Series machines from Pero work with the entire system under negative pressure, and the V stands for vacuum. Another advantage considered attractive to Tenable Screw is that the machine can be used with all solvent types, hence the word ‘universal.’ In fact it is possible to swap from chlorinated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons in a single day. Although Tenable Screw’s current focus is firmly on the former, Mr Runciman confirms that with constantly amended legislation, the move may prove fruitful in economic terms in future years.Norman holding parts cleaned in a Pero solvent degreaser Established in 1940, Tenable Screw Co Ltd has expanded from producing specialised screws by the hundred to the manufacture of high precision turned components by the million. Through a programme of continuous investment the company is one of the largest producers in the UK with a full range of turning capacity available, including 35 CNC machines, multi-spindle automatics, coil-fed automatics, rotary transfer machines and Pero parts cleaning equipment based at three sites: London, Wiltshire and Coventry. Current annual turnover is in the region of £7.5 million. Typical products range from tiny precision pins and sockets up to 32mm diameter components in all materials. The electronics industry is a specialty of Tenable Screw, machining shells and pins for a huge range of electrical connectors. Terminals and screw assemblies are also produced by the millions to suit most electrical or electronic applications. Batch sizes at this ISO 9002 accredited company range from a 1000 up to millions. Other prominent industries served include automotive, aerospace and medical. The Pero degreaser V1 parts cleaning machine works at full tilt during a single day shift at the company’s Marlborough site in Wiltshire. It is used to clean components ranging across Tenable Screw’s size range. Each basket can be loaded up to 80kg – the V1 is able to process 6-10 basket loads per hour depending on selected parts cleaning cycle. “This is a significant investment for us,” states Simon Schlaefli, managing director. “The V1 was the most practical and suitable choice for our parts cleaning application available on the market. Whilst we have bought the machine in order to comply with the SER, ultimately our customers will benefit. Providing customers with good presentation of parts is undoubtedly an increasingly important factor. Today all customers expect parts cleaning machines to produce components that are super clean.”