CUSTOMER SUCCESS STORY
Custom Rail & Transit Traction Motor Cleaning System, Equipped with Vacuum Drying Technology
Better Engineering partnered with ALBA Manufacturing to develop a fully automated cleaning system for refurbished traction motor assemblies. The integrated solution combines powered roller conveyance, multi-stage aqueous cleaning, heated drying, and vacuum drying to process components weighing up to 2,500 pounds with repeatable positioning and automated material handling.
Better Engineering has been manufacturing industrial parts washing and cleaning systems since 1960, serving aerospace, automotive, food processing, pharmaceutical, and heavy equipment manufacturers across the U.S. Better Engineering offers a full line of custom, solvent-free aqueous cleaning solutions, which include cabinet turntable washers, conveyor tunnel systems, immersion and ultrasonic cleaners, rotary drum and basket washers, and return-to-operator systems.
Alba Manufacturing has been supplying pallet handling equipment since 1973 through system integrators, OEMs, and distributors throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Alba offers a full line of pre-engineered pallet handling products, which include chain-driven live roller conveyors, turntables, chain transfers, drag chain conveyors, pallet dispenser/stackers, transfer cars, and gravity conveyors.
The project combined Better Engineering’s custom aqueous cleaning technology with ALBA Manufacturing’s powered roller conveyor to create a fully integrated processing line. ALBA’s zoned accumulation conveyor transports palletized traction motors through each stage of the process while maintaining controlled indexing, pallet accumulation, and repeatable positioning between modules.
The result is a single automated system that minimizes manual handling while maintaining consistent part orientation throughout washing, rinsing, drying, and unloading operations.
Project Overview
Traction motor assemblies present unique cleaning challenges due to their size, weight, and complex internal geometry. Internal cavities, recessed features, and exterior surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned while residual moisture must be removed prior to assembly or return to service. Conventional heated air drying alone may not adequately remove moisture trapped within enclosed passages.
To address these requirements, Better Engineering engineered a custom C-PD-50 automated cleaning system consisting of four integrated process stages:
- Wash
- Recirculated Rinse with Fresh Water Final Rinse
- Heated Air Dry
- Heated Vacuum Dry
Material handling is performed by ALBA Manufacturing’s powered roller conveyor with zoned accumulation, allowing 32 × 32-inch pallets carrying components weighing up to 2,500 pounds to automatically advance through each processing stage. The system indexes one pallet every 15 minutes while maintaining continuous pallet circulation between the loading station, washer, rinse module, vacuum dryer, and unload station.
Project Snapshot
APPLICATION
Traction Motor Cleaning
CLEANING PROCESS
Wash, Recirculated Rinse, Heated Dry, Vacuum Dry
MATERIAL HANDLING
Powered Roller Conveyor with Zoned Accumulation
PRODUCTION RATE
One Pallet Every 15 Minutes
System Operation
This system integrates automated material handling with sequential cleaning and drying processes to provide repeatable processing of heavy traction motor assemblies. The video demonstrates pallet transfer, wash module operation, recirculated rinsing, heated drying, and the final heated vacuum drying process.
How the System Works
Powered Material Handling
Traction motor assemblies are loaded onto 32 × 32-inch pallets and transported by an ALBA Manufacturing powered roller conveyor with zoned accumulation. Automated indexing advances each pallet through the cleaning process while maintaining consistent positioning and minimizing manual handling.
Wash Module
Components enter the wash module where they rotate on a turntable as high-pressure spray and a dedicated wash pole clean both external surfaces and internal passages. A heated cleaning solution is continuously recirculated to remove oils, grease, and contaminants.
Recirculated Rinse and Heated Dry
Following washing, parts move through a recirculated rinse and fresh water final rinse to remove residual cleaning chemistry. Heated air drying then removes surface moisture before the component advances to the final process stage.
Heated Vacuum Dry
A heated vacuum chamber cycles between vacuum and atmospheric pressure to extract moisture from internal cavities and enclosed passages. This final stage provides the level of dryness required for refurbished traction motors returning to service.
System at a Glance
Key Results & Highlights
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Heavy-Duty Construction
304 stainless steel wetted components, sanitary process tanks, insulated process modules, and steam-heated wash and rinse systems.
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Multi-Stage Cleaning Process
High-pressure washing, recirculated rinsing, fresh water rinsing, heated drying, and vacuum drying within a single automated process.
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Automated Material FLow
Integrated conveyor transport with zoned accumulation and automatic pallet indexing.
Cleaning Stages
Wash • Recirculated Rinse • Heated Dry • Vacuum Dry
Max Pallet Capacity
2,500 lb
Conveyor System
Powered Roller Conveyor with Zoned Accumulation
Wash Temperature
140°F
Drying Method
Heated Air and Heated Vacuum Dry
System Gallery
The gallery highlights the integrated process modules and material handling equipment that comprise the complete C-PD-50 cleaning system.
