Problem
Medical waste containers return with residue that must be removed consistently, container after container. Hand-cleaning is slow, labor-intensive, and hard to keep consistent across shifts. The challenge was compounded by the fleet’s size range: the tallest carts stand more than 44″ high, the smallest totes are just 18’’ high, and many have flaps that can trap water or block spray if they aren’t oriented correctly.
The customer needed a system with enough internal clearance for the largest carts, enough spray volume and heat to clean every container reliably, and a drying stage that would return containers to service dry, not wet.
Solution
Better Engineering engineered a C-36 conveyor tunnel washer with a 36″ belt, 48″ of internal vertical clearance, and a 40″ load height, giving the system room for the full range of containers the customer runs. A variable-speed conveyor, adjustable from 1 to 30 feet per minute, lets operators tune dwell time to the container and soil level. Containers are loaded single-file with any flaps facing the direction of travel so spray can reach every surface.
Once loaded, each container passes through three stages:
- Heated recirculated wash
- Heated recirculated rinse & sanitize
- Heated dry
All wetted parts are 316 stainless steel, and the pitched tank and canopy floors allow for full drainage. Each module has a front-side access door for maintenance. The modules bolt together with flanged connections, simplifying transport and giving the customer the option to expand the line in the future.
Results
The completed tunnel washer gives the customer a single automated line for cleaning its full fleet of reusable medical waste containers. Instead of washing totes and bins by hand, operators load containers at one end and unload them clean and dry at the other, with heated wash, heated rinse, and heated dry stages running continuously in between.
Performance Highlights:
- One line, nine container styles: A 36″ belt and 48″ of internal clearance accommodate everything from 17-gallon Rehrig totes to 96/95-gallon carts.
- High-volume heated cleaning: Independent wash and rinse modules, each with a 10 HP pump at 200 GPM/60 PSI, with rinse water heated up to 185°F.
- Complete dry cycle: A 20 HP blower with 63 kW of electric heat reaches up to 250°F to dry containers before they return to service.
- Built to grow: A modular, flanged design supports easier transport and future expansion.
Conclusion
Reusable medical waste containers have to come back clean every time, no matter their size. By pairing high-volume heated wash and rinse modules with a heated dry stage on its C-36 conveyor tunnel washer platform, Better Engineering gave this regulated medical waste customer a continuous, automated way to clean its entire container fleet on one line, with room to expand as its operation grows.
Interested in finding your solution? Contact us for more information, a facility tour, or free part testing.