Challenge
The customer faced significant challenges in cleaning oversized rail components contaminated with heavy grease, oil buildup, and embedded debris. Manual and legacy cleaning methods lacked the consistency and power needed to achieve reliable results, often leaving residues that could interfere with downstream inspection and assembly processes.
In addition, the size and weight of the components created handling difficulties. Parts required a cleaning system with a large working envelope and high load capacity, while still delivering uniform spray coverage across complex geometries. The operation also needed a repeatable, controlled process that could support demanding throughput requirements without sacrificing safety or cleanliness standards.
Approach
Better Engineering provided a custom parts washer cabinet designed to meet the customer’s heavy-duty cleaning requirements and accommodate large rail components.
- Engineered an 80-inch diameter turntable with a spacious cylindrical working volume and up to 10,000-pound load capacity at the center, allowing the system to handle oversized, high-mass parts with ease
- Integrated a three-stage cleaning process consisting of a heated recirculated wash, fresh water rinse, and non-heated drying stage to ensure complete contaminant removal and effective drying
- Designed the system with a hinged door configuration and 36-inch loading height to support safe and efficient loading via customer-supplied jib cranes
- Equipped the washer with a high-performance pump delivering approximately 200 GPM at 60 PSI, operating temperatures up to 180°F, utilizing a caustic chemistry for aggressive cleaning of grease and debris
- Constructed all wetted components from 304 stainless steel to ensure durability, corrosion resistance, and long-term reliability in demanding industrial environments
Results
- Achieved consistent, high-quality cleaning of heavily contaminated rail components across varying sizes and geometries
- Improved operational efficiency by replacing inconsistent manual or outdated cleaning
- methods with a repeatable automated process
- Enabled safe handling of large, heavy parts through optimized system design and compatibility with existing lifting equipment
- Reduced rework and inspection delays by delivering cleaner parts ready for downstream processes
Conclusion
By implementing a custom-engineered parts washer cabinet , the customer transformed a challenging and inconsistent cleaning process into a controlled, high-performance operation. The system’s ability to handle large, heavy components while delivering powerful, repeatable cleaning results provided a reliable foundation for improved maintenance workflows. With enhanced throughput, better cleaning consistency, and a rugged design built for industrial demands, the solution supports long-term efficiency and reliability in rail and transit operations.
Interested in finding your solution? Contact us for more information, a facility tour, or free part testing.