Amnitec
Flexible hose manufacturer chooses Union cleaning technology
Amnitec Ltd, located in Abercanaid, near Merthyr Tydfil, is part of the United Flexible group of companies and is a market leader in the manufacture of flexible hoses for the safe and reliable transfer of fluids and gases across a wide range of industries. The company is recognised for its expertise in the design and manufacture of bespoke products capable of reliable performance, even in extreme environments.
When the company identified the need to replace their existing vapour degreasing process, they contacted D&S Ultra-Clean for advice on the most appropriate technology. “Cleanliness has always been an important factor in ensuring the quality and performance of our products, especially as many are used in harsh environments” comments Andrew Satterthwaite, Technical Manager at Amnitec. “However, the products themselves have complex structures, which create many difficulties in relation to effective cleaning and drying, especially when this is combined with the need to maintain high product throughput.” “We were also aware of our responsibility to safeguard our workforce and minimise the impact of our activities on the local environment, so to say that we were undecided which way to go when the time came to replace our existing equipment is something of an understatement and we felt that we needed to take advice from specialists.”
D&S Ultra-Clean recommended a Union MDMV2 closed solvent cleaning machine incorporating ultrasonic cleaning and vacuum drying, and using DOWPERTM MC, highly stabilised perchloroethylene supplied by SAFECHEM Europe. Andrew admits:
“At the outset, we were somewhat sceptical that the machine would match up to the claims being made regarding its performance. In particular, solvent retention within our hoses had always presented us with problems in our old cleaning system, so we needed to be convinced that the vacuum drying facility would be up to the job. Initially, D&S carried out cleaning trials that clearly demonstrated just how effective the machine was. The cleanliness of the hoses was significantly better than anything we had seen previously, components were completely dry, and cycle times were such that production rates were not compromised.”
Andrew continues: “We also had concerns regarding the long-term viability of a solvent cleaning process in the light of current legislation such as REACH. D&S and SAFECHEM gave us an in-depth appraisal of the regulatory position in relation to the use of perchloroethylene, and also explained the advantages of the SAFE-TAINERä solvent delivery system that linked directly to the machine and provided a safe and effective method of handling solvent and waste into and out of the machine. All of this certainly set our minds at rest and I must say that, throughout the process, D&S were very conscientious in ensuring that we were completely happy with every aspect of their proposal, which made it easier for us to make an informed decision when the time came.”
“The machine has now been in use for about a year” says Andrew. “We’re absolutely delighted with the cleaning performance, solvent efficiency and reliability. Our solvent usage is now a fraction of what it was previously, which gives us a genuine cost saving and we have a safe working environment. The SAFE-TAINERsolvent delivery system complements the machine perfectly, providing a safe means of storage, transport and handling of solvent and waste around the site. The new installation has also met with the approval of the local authority, based on the fact that we are using best available technology in the form of a sealed machine with closed loop solvent handling, comfortably meeting our obligations on emissions into the local environment.
All in all, investing in the right equipment for our application has resolved all of our component cleaning issues. We’d certainly recommend D&S Ultra-Clean, Union solvent cleaning machines and SAFECHEM to anyone considering making a similar investment in the near future.”
“Over the past few years, we have been delighted to represent Union in the UK” says Derek Thomas, Managing Director of D&S Ultra-Clean Ltd. “Amnitec is just one of many companies that we’ve been able to help and who are now enjoying the benefits of investing in modern, solvent cleaning equipment. We believe the quality, efficiency and reliability of Union closed cleaning systems is second to none and, when coupled with the SAFE-TAINER solvent delivery system, provides safe, sustainable solvent cleaning.”
Surface World - October 2016
