is ultrasonic cleaning equipment right for your business
DESCRIPTION
Ultrasonic cleaning has long been recognised as one of the most effective methods of deep cleaning for a diverse range of applications. It is efficient, cost effective and will even clean complex and hard to reach areas.TRANSCRIPT
Is Ultrasonic Cleaning
Equipment Right for
your Business?
Ultrasonic cleaning is the rapid and complete
removal of contaminants from objects, achieved
by immersion in a tank of liquid which is then
flooded with high frequency sound waves. These
non-audible sound waves create a scrubbing
brush action within the fluid, brought about by
high frequency electrical energy that is
converted by a transducer into high frequency
sound waves – ultrasonic energy.
Ultrasonic energy enters the liquid within the tank and causes the rapid formation
and collapse of minute bubbles; a phenomenon known as cavitation. The bubbles
travel at high speed within the tank, causing them to implode against the surface
of the immersed item with an enormous release of energy. This gently lifts
contaminants from both the surface and innermost recesses of intricately shaped
parts.
As the bubbles implode and cavitation
occurs, the cleaning solution rushes into the
gap left behind by the bubbles. When the
cleaning solution makes contact with the
item in question, any contaminants, dirt
and tarnishing which are present simply
falls away.
What is ultrasonic cleaning?
How does it work?
Benefits
Ultrasonic cleaning has long been recognised as one of the most effective
methods of deep cleaning for a diverse range of applications. No other aqueous
based method is as fast or efficient at cleaning hard substrates or intricate parts
as ultrasonic cleaning.
Cost effectiveness
Because ultrasonic cleaning utilises detergent compounds in conjunction with
electrically generated sonic energy, the ongoing costs of operating a cleaning
tank are minimal. The unit cost per operation will vary depending on the type of
cleaning compounds used and the items immersed within the tank. Like for like
comparisons with other methods of cleaning demonstrate a significant saving in
the long term on the cost of cleaning materials, equipment, and manpower hours
involved in the procedure.
Ultrasonic cleaning is energy efficient and does not require large applications of
elbow grease, freeing up you and your staff to get on with other tasks while the
ultrasonic cleaner gets to work.
Completed in just 10 minutes
One of the greatest benefits of ultrasonic
cleaning is its ability to clean even
intricate items within a very short time
scale. Ultrasonic cleaning cycles can last
for as little as ten minutes or even less,
which is considerably faster than most
non-solvent based alternatives.
The cleaning process is non-destructive and will produce consistent cleaning results
of the highest standard time after time.
Environmentally friendly
Ultrasonic cleaning is an environmentally friendly and technically feasible alternative
to using cleaning solvents that are ozone depleting and have other undesirable
characteristics. Reduced emissions, biodegradable waste and a safer working
environment are among the many benefits of using an ultrasonic cleaner. The
restrictions imposed by the Solvent Emissions directive have led to more and more
companies using ultrasonic cleaning as an alternative to solvents.
Energy efficient
Ultrasonic cleaning is not only
environmentally friendly, but also
energy efficient. Fast, effective
cleaning using ultrasonic technology
ensures low electricity consumption
like for like with alternative methods,
for cost effective and thorough
cleaning first time with minimal
energy expenditure.
Cleans inaccessible areas
Ultrasonic cleaning is highly effective at reaching inaccessible and hard to clean
areas of items. The microscopic bubbles produced by the ultrasonic energy are easily
able to penetrate screw threads, hinges, hollow tubes, the smallest and most
delicate items.
It is this ability to clean even
the most inaccessible areas
which makes ultrasonic
cleaning the ideal choice for
cleaning complex and intricate
parts manufactured in precision
industries. Ultrasonic cleaning
is able to remove dirt and
contaminants from the most
difficult to access areas with an
effective yet gentle cleaning
action.
Ideal for delicate materials and heavy duty items alike
Ultrasonic cleaning is a gentle, non invasive method of cleaning even delicate items,
and provided you use the correct detergent for the materials in your ultrasonic
cleaner, the likelihood of any damage or degradation occurring is minimal. Ultrasonic
cleaning is non destructive, and is a much safer way to clean and care for fine
materials such as precious metals and precision equipment which can easily become
damaged if manually cleaned using tools and abrasive substances.
Despite the delicate nature of ultrasonic cleaning, the technology is still suitable for
rigorous and robust cleaning of even the most heavily contaminated items. As well
as intricate medical devices and precision engineered components, ultrasonic
cleaning is ideal for processing of heavy duty items such as engine blocks, heat
exchangers and gas turbines.
Flexible
Ultrasonic cleaning can easily be incorporated into almost any applications.
Here are some examples:
Manufacturing Automotive Aerospace Food & beverage Filtration Moulding Pharmaceutical
implants
Maintenance & Servicing Fuel & power Tooling & Defence Food & beverage Oil & gas Heat exchangers
Scientific & Laboratory Research Cell disruption
Healthcare Dental Optical Hospital (Sterile Services) General Practice HTM compliant ultrasonic baths
Veterinary Veterinary surgery
Other popular uses of ultrasonic cleaning Jewellery Tattooist Body piercing Accupuncture Coin cleaning
And many more…
Limitations
Transducer Efficiency
The efficiency of the transducer used in your ultrasonic cleaning tank will affect both
the cleaning time and efficiency achieved during the cleaning cycle. A poor quality
transducer will use more power and take longer to clean items than a good
transducer. This is why Ultrawave has invested a significant amount of time and
money into the development of their transducers, providing you with a benchmark
transducer which offers superior performance.
Contributing Factors
The efficacy and efficiency of the ultrasonic cleaning process is affected by different
factors. Each ultrasonic cleaning system needs to be driven by the appropriate level
of ultrasonic power. Similar to an engine in a car, to deliver optimum results, the
level of ultrasonic power should be determined by the size of the cleaning tank.
As with most cleaning applications, heat acts as a catalyst to the process. Generally
speaking, trying to clean something at 20°C will take considerable longer than
cleaning at 60°C.
The detergent used in the process will affect the cleaning results. Different materials
and contaminants require different detergents and using the incorrect detergent can
even damage some materials.
Furthermore, different applications may need the addition of extra features to the
ultrasonic system to provide the best results. Ultrawave’s Customised Ultrasonic
Systems can incorporate pump and filter systems, deionised water rinses and other
technologies all designed to provide the optimum cleaning results.
Finally, the length of time an item is processed for will affect the results. By
ensuring the system is designed with the specific application in mind, ultrasonic
cleaning can take considerably less time, generating the company more money, day
after day.
Laboratory
Ultrasonic cleaning machines and sonic wave
technology solutions can be found in laboratories
and centres of research excellence in a wide
range of areas including sonochemistry, cell
disruption and mixing technology, scientific and
medical research and much more.
Healthcare
Ultrasonic baths are used in a variety of
professional healthcare settings, when
impeccable cleaning and surgical standard
hygiene are simply not negotiable.
As the first stage in the decontamination
process they are used in a wide range of fields,
including dental, optical and podiatry, general
practice, and hospitals.
Applications
Ultrasonic cleaning tanks and equipment are used in a wide range of industries and
applications.
Manufacturing
Ultrasonic cleaning has a proven track record
in catering for specific needs of individual
client in a wide range of areas such as:
Aerospace
Automotive
Defence
Pharmaceutical industries
Medical devices and orthopaedic implant
providers
Marine and filtration systems
Moulding and fabrications manufacturers,
plating
Surface finishing
Food and beverage industry.
Maintenance and
reconditioning
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment is also the
cleaning method of choice for fine jewellers
and watchmakers, oil, gas and automotive
servicing engineers, the maintenance and
cleaning of automotive parts and the
reconditioning of precision tools, weaponry,
heat exchangers and much more.
Ultrasonic cleaning has long been
recognised as one of the most
effective methods of deep cleaning for
a diverse range of applications. It is
cost effective, energy efficient,
flexible, cleans inaccessible areas and
is ideal for delicate and robust items
alike.
It is successfully used in a wide range
of industries and applications, from
large international conglomerates
right down to small individual
hobbyists and sole traders.
Conclusion
About Ultrawave
Ultrawave has over twenty years of experience in the design and manufacture of
precision ultrasonic cleaning equipment. Our in-house design team work
constantly to push the boundaries of ultrasonic technology in order to provide all
of our clients, large and small, with the very best ultrasonic cleaning equipment
available today.
We have manufactured and sold over 45,000 ultrasonic cleaning systems to
customers throughout the world. The Ultrawave team of engineers, designers and
production technicians are able to interpret your demands and deliver top quality
products to meet any cleaning and processing requirements.
By maintaining complete control over all of our design and production processes,
we can offer the flexibility to meet each individual customer’s requirements and
provide the appropriate cleaning solution for many different markets and
applications.
We are accredited to ISO13485 (Medical Device Manufacturing) and ISO9001
standards, and are committed to ensuring that our products and technological
developments continue to meet the rigorous demands laid out by these
regulations.
On-going investment in research and design ensure that Ultrawave remains at the
head of the pack when it comes to designing and producing the most effective
ultrasonic cleaning equipment available. Our in-house laboratory is at your service
to carry out sample testing and optimisation to make sure that the products which
we supply to you are perfectly calibrated for your own individual requirements.
Contact Ultrawave for more information or a free no obligation initial consultation.