Manufacturing

Customer
Chemical Manufacturer

Application
Chemical Containers

Background
This company processes chemicals (typically for the rubber and mold release industry) and distributes them in large 4í square stackable, metal "totes". When empty, they are returned to the company to be re-used. Before being refilled, all traces of any "old" chemicals have to be removed and the previous method of hand cleaning with a water hose, a solvent spray, a step stool, and a 4í brush was costly and dangerous.

Problem
The design of the "totes" made cleaning difficult. These "totes" weigh approx. 450 lbs. empty and have an 18" man-hole at the top, a small drain hole at the bottom, and a ball valve on the bottom for sampling the quality of the newly filled chemical, which is immediately tested for contaminants (water). The roof of each tote could not be reached with a brush so it never came clean. Approx. 2,500 totes per year are being cleaned at this facility.

Solution
A front load 70" turntable system with an automatic center manifold with a 360ƒ nozzle at the bottom for washing and drying the inside of the totes. The fixture is designed to tilt the tote nearly 2 inches toward the bottom drain hole for proper drainage. Cycle times to wash, rinse and dry one tote is now only 15 minutes.

System
A F-7000-SS "Purifier" model... all stainless steel...built to "Class 1, Division 1" explosion proof (there are solvent fumes in the area)...automatic center manifold...fresh rinse and dry stages.

Company Savings
1,200 man-hours per year no solvent costs or waste disposal fees.

Additional Benefits
All chemical labels which used to take a considerable amount of time to remove, now peal off easily and employees no longer have to wear hazmat uniforms for cleaning.

9/16/00