Industrial Parts Cleaning
What is Industrial Parts Cleaning?
Industrial parts cleaning involves removing production-related contaminants such as oils, greases, chips, drawing compounds and emulsions from components. It takes place between or after individual manufacturing steps, for example after machining or forming and before joining.
RHOBA-Chemie develops cleaning chemicals for different combinations of substrate, contamination and cleaning equipment. The formulations are developed in our own laboratory and adapted to the specific process requirements.
What effective cleaning chemistry can achieve
The surface quality after cleaning has a direct impact on the function and service life of components:
| Impact | What the Chemistry does |
| Adhesion of Subsequent Coatings | Release agents and oils are thoroughly removed to support reliable adhesion of paints and coatings. |
| Wear Protection | Surfaces free from particles and abrasive residues can help prevent malfunctions in assemblies, such as hydraulic or injection systems. |
| Corrosion Protection | A molecular protective film can be integrated directly into the cleaning step to protect components until further processing. |
| Costs | Stable bath parameters can extend service life, reduce disposal costs and help lower reject rates. |
Benefits of our specialized Chemicals for Industrial Parts Cleaning
Surface quality has a direct impact on the function and service life of your components. Our specialized chemicals offer measurable benefits:
- High coating adhesion: Thorough removal of release agents and oils to support reliable adhesion of subsequent coatings and paints
- Effective wear protection: Particle- and residue-free surfaces to help prevent malfunctions in assemblies
- Integrated corrosion protection: Protection of component value through molecular protective films integrated directly into the cleaning process
- Potential cost savings: Stable process parameters can extend bath service life, reduce disposal costs and help lower reject rates
Industrial Parts Cleaning Methods
Water-Based Cleaning Systems
For immersion, spray and ultrasonic applications, we offer a portfolio ranging from highly alkaline cleaners (pH range 11–14) for stubborn contamination to pH-neutral solutions for sensitive surfaces.
Demulsifying formulations help separate tramp oils from the cleaning bath. The separated oils can then be removed from the process, for example using an oil separator or skimmer.
Solvent-Based Cleaning Systems
Where water-based systems reach their limits, solvent-based cleaners can be used. Our focus is on material-compatible and modern formulations, including VOC-free and VOC-reduced products.
Water-Based or Solvent-Based – A Decision Guide
| Criteria | Water-Based Cleaning | Solvent-Based Cleaning |
| Typical contamination | Emulsions, drawing compounds, water-soluble residues | Oils, greases, waxes, stubborn carbonized residues |
| Component geometry | Open geometries, immersion/spray cleaning | Can be advantageous for complex geometries |
| Material compatibility | Must be assessed individually | Must be assessed individually |
| Post-treatment | Rinsing and drying required | Generally less energy-intensive |
| Regulatory requirements | Wastewater treatment and hazardous substance labeling may be relevant | VOC limits, VOC reporting, hazardous substance labeling, requirements under explosion protection and chemicals legislation may be relevant |
Industrial Parts Cleaning: The Process in 6 Steps
1. Pre-Cleaning
Coarse residues such as chips or heavy oil contamination are removed beforehand. This reduces the load on the main cleaning baths and can extend their service life.
2. Selecting the Cleaning Method and Agent
The combination of cleaning method—such as spraying, immersion or ultrasonic cleaning—and cleaning chemistry has a major influence on the result. The selected cleaning medium is designed to remove stubborn drawing compounds or emulsions, including from complex geometries, while taking the substrate into account.
3. Rinsing
Cascade rinsing helps prevent carryover and drying stains. Rinsing cycles are determined based on water analysis to prepare the surface for subsequent coating or assembly.
4. Preservation
For corrosion-sensitive materials such as steel or cast iron, temporary corrosion protection can be integrated into the final rinse. This can help protect components during storage and transport.
5. Drying
Vacuum or hot-air drying can remove residual moisture from blind holes and capillaries as well as from other component areas, helping to reduce the risk of subsequent oxidation.
6. Quality Control & Monitoring
Regular bath analyses and titrations help ensure that process parameters remain within the specified tolerances and that the requirements of residual contamination analysis are met.
Industry Solutions for Industrial Parts Cleaning
We support customers from a wide range of industries throughout Germany and internationally with technical application expertise and on-site service:
- Automotive Industry
- Paint Shops
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metalworking Industry
- Aviation
Why choose RHOBA-Chemie?
- Cleaning solutions developed and adapted in our own laboratory to your application and process requirements
- Analysis of optimization potential for temperature, time and concentration
- Ongoing monitoring of process parameters
- Consistently high cleaning quality
- Integration into your existing equipment and cleaning systems
Individual Consulting for Industrial Parts Cleaning
From selecting a suitable specialized cleaner to optimizing your production process, RHOBA-Chemie supports you throughout the process. We help you improve process efficiency and maintain the required quality standards for your components.
Frequently Asked Questions About Industrial Parts Cleaning
What does Industrial Parts Cleaning involve?
Industrial parts cleaning includes all processes used to remove production-related contaminants from components in preparation for subsequent manufacturing steps.
How does Industrial Parts Cleaning work?
The process depends on the component, contamination, substrate and cleaning equipment. Typical process steps include pre-cleaning, cleaning, rinsing, optional preservation and drying, along with monitoring of process parameters and, where required, component cleanliness.
RHOBA-Chemie supports you in coordinating the parameters of chemistry, mechanical action and time throughout each stage of the process (see the 6 process steps above).
How can corrosion be prevented after parts cleaning?
RHOBA-Chemie offers cleaners with integrated corrosion protection additives for the protection of metal surfaces, including RHOBA SUPRA C102 and C103. They form a molecular protective film that can help protect components against corrosion during storage or transport without interfering with subsequent processing steps.
What role does process water treatment technology play?
The efficiency of a cleaning system depends in part on the continuous treatment of the process medium. The appropriate treatment method depends on the physical state of the contamination (solid or liquid) as well as its chemical compatibility with the cleaning agent used.
What are the advantages of water-based parts cleaning compared with solvent cleaning?
Water-based cleaners are suitable for numerous industrial cleaning processes, including spray, immersion and ultrasonic cleaning. Solvent-based systems can offer advantages for certain oil-, grease- or wax-based contaminants.
How does Industrial Parts Cleaning affect manufacturing costs?
Cleaning is part of the manufacturing process and affects factors such as cleaning chemical consumption, bath service life, as well as the effort required for rework and disposal. Coordinated process control and regular monitoring of cleaning baths can help reduce chemical consumption and unnecessary bath changes. At the same time, cleaning issues can be identified at an early stage before they affect subsequent manufacturing steps.
Which Industrial Cleaning Chemicals are suitable for Automotive Components?
Water-based, demulsifying cleaners from the RHOBA LAVIA range are commonly used in the automotive supply chain.