Choosing the right parts washing equipment for your company can be a daunting task. The CRC SmartWasher Parts-Washing System is designed for tough jobs. It was built to meet the parts washing needs of industrial applications, for general maintenance, automotive, and fleet maintenance users, and for military equipment, aircraft, and weapons cleaning, but is safe enough for use in food handling facilities.
What is a parts washer?
A parts washer is a device designed to remove grit, dirt, grime, oil, paint, and other contaminating substances from parts.
When parts are manufactured for use in machinery, etc, they are often coated in oils, chemicals, abrasive dust, paint, and other residue left over from the machining, forging, or fabricating process. This debris must be removed from parts before they move onto the next stage of their manufacturing process, and this is where a parts washer comes in.
All parts need to be completely decontaminated and cleaned to function properly. This is especially true when those parts will be used in precision engineering or when those parts are used in industries that generate high levels of grease, oil, and other contaminants that can stop machinery from working properly.
Types of parts washers
There are two main systems when it comes to parts washers: aqueous or water cleaners and solvent cleaners.
Aqueous/Water Parts Washers
As the name suggests, aqueous or water parts washers have the cleaning power of solvents, using cleaning products that are biodegradable and water-based.
Solvent Parts Washers
Solvent cleaners are used to dissolve dirt and grime using a chemical process and can include solvents such as mineral spirits, petroleum naphtha, benzene, trichloroethane, and xylenes.
The type of parts washer you use will determine the cleaning agent that is used in the parts washer. In recent years, there has been a shift to the use of biodegradable ingredients.
At CRC, our parts washers use a pH-neutral cleaner called OzzyJuice. OzzyJuice effectively cleans parts, removing grease and grime naturally, while the bioremediation process cleans the fluid.
What is bioremediation?
Bioremediation is the use of microbes to break down and “eat” oil, grease, and carbon-based contaminants. This proven biotechnology is used to assist in the clean-up of wastewater treatment ponds and lagoons in petroleum refineries and industrial manufacturing facilities all around the world.
OzzyJuice degreasing solutions are made for exclusive use in the CRC SmartWasher bioremediating parts washing systems.
Bioremediation is a safe, environmentally friendly way to process many kinds of hazardous waste into harmless by-products. The EPA considers this a viable solution for the clean-up of oil spills and other contaminants.
Bioremediating parts cleaners are safe for humans as well as the environment. Reduce your environmental impact by using our CRC SmartWasher Parts Washers and eliminate liquid hazardous waste and the expense and liabilities of hazardous waste removal.
Bioremediation vs Solvent Parts Washers
Solvent parts washers use harsh, hazardous, and harmful chemicals to clean parts, such as mineral spirits, benzene, xylene, or trichloroethane. These chemicals are not only hazardous to the employees who have direct contact with the parts washer but also to the employees simply working in the same vicinity as the solvent unit. Contact with solvent and/or inhaling solvent vapours can be detrimental to employees’ health.
Bioremediating parts cleaners use biological agents, such as microbes, to remove or neutralize contaminants, converting harmful materials into non-toxic by-products.
Are water-based parts washers any good?
Water-based solvents can be just as efficacious as chemical-based solvents that use harsh, toxic ingredients to power away tough accumulations. This means that water-based parts cleaners are not only as effective as solvent parts washers, but they are also much better for the environment.
There are a number of benefits to choosing a water-based parts washer. As we have already discussed, it is much safer for employees, and means less downtime from illness and health problems.
Water-based parts washers also tend to be more cost-effective as the cleaning substances used in them are water-based, which usually means lower costs than chemicals used in cleaning products in solvent-based parts washers.
The bioremediation process used in the CRC SmartWasher Systems is not only a cost-effective and safe way to clean dirty parts, but it is also smart. This system was designed to handle tough greases and oils and heavy-duty parts.
What fluid do you put in a parts washer?
The cleaning fluid you use in a parts washer will depend on the type of parts washer you are using. Common cleaning liquids used in parts washers include:
Biodegradable – we have already touched on the switch that many parts washer brands are making towards biodegradable cleaning fluids, and they are becoming more common thanks to their excellent cleaning properties, coupled with the benefits to the environment and the staff using the parts washer.
Oil eater solvents are an effective method for cleaning industrial parts.
Water-based solvents are pH neutral, non-toxic, non-irritating, non-flammable, and can be used in bioremediating systems.
Detergents can be used in aqueous parts washers and are designed to be used in jet sprayers and power washers.
The CRC SmartWasher Systems has been developed to work effectively as a whole and complete system; CRC SmartWasher Parts Washer, OzzyJuice degreasing/cleaning solutions, and OzzyMat impregnated with Ozzy Microbes. Other solutions may damage the machine or kill Ozzy Microbes, thereby eliminating the advantages of the CRC SmartWasher. The use of other solutions in the CRC SmartWasher will void the warranty.
Is a parts washer necessary?
Parts washers are essential in a wide range of industries for maintenance, repair, and remanufacturing operations, from cleaning fasteners, nuts, bolts, and screws to diesel engine blocks and related parts, rail bearings, wind turbine gear boxes, and automotive assemblies.
At CRC, we work with businesses across a number of industries, including:
- Automotive
- General Industrial Maintenance
- Military Operations
Automotive Parts Washer
Our automotive parts washers will effectively remove built-up grease, oil, and other contaminants that can lead to the premature demise of a vehicle. The exclusive CRC SmartWasher bioremediation process will remove these stubborn contaminants with ease and keep your vehicles on the highway instead of in the repair shop.
General Industrial Maintenance
With all sorts of electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and even computer-operated systems in the modern industrial environment, you require parts washers that are versatile enough to meet a wide variety of cleaning needs. The extensive line of CRC SmartWasher parts washers has all the bases covered, no matter what type of industrial cleaning task awaits you.
Military Operations
The military needs reliable parts washers to keep their extensive fleet of land vehicles at the ready at all times. A line of reliable CRC SmartWasher Parts Washers is available to keep your military machinery in fighting shape. Our parts washers can also clean several parts at once, providing the maximum efficiency essential for all military operations.
Summary
The SmartWasher Bioremediating Parts Washing System is both self-cleaning and environmentally friendly. Using a pH-neutral cleaner called OzzyJuice, it effectively cleans parts, removing grease and grime naturally, while the bioremediation process cleans the fluid.
Our CRC SmartWasher Parts Washer range includes a number of different models depending on the application use and the parts that need to be washed. Make sure you check out the full CRC SmartWasher range and talk to the team today about your parts washing needs.