Letter from the President
Jeff Beard, MCA President
There is a term readily used within the industry – precision parts cleaning. Precision cleaning is generally defined as the process of cleaning components or systems to ensure any contaminants are well within the defined cleanliness limits such as Non-Volatile Residue requirements (NVR) and/or Particle Count, which, in most cases are set by the industry’s standards or the clients’ specifications. The standards may include IEST, ASTM, FDA, VDA/ISO and others.
These standards are used for all suppliers to comply with a single standard which in theory should provide consistent, reliable results, regardless of where the components are cleaned. The specs simply provide an end goal for cleanliness, not the mechanism to be used to meet the requirement. Failure to meet cleaning standards can lead to part failure or warranty concerns, to the extreme of loss of life. The parts of aerospace engines can develop fractures if not cleaned properly. Medical device components may be tested for cytotoxicity, bioburden and TOC. Obviously, devices that are to be placed in the body require special attention and demand precision cleaning. It would take pages to list all the parts that require precision cleaning and the why behind the requirement.
Selecting the right precision cleaning process will usually depend on the cleanliness requirement to be met, the kind/type of contaminant(s) to be removed, the substrates, any special processing such as passivation, new or existing equipment, and the next process. As you work with your suppliers, they will ask a lot of questions. This will enable them to provide the best recommendation based upon their experiences. I would recommend you invite the chemistry and equipment supplier to work together to provide a process solution. Precision cleaning will require the best combination of equipment and chemistry to provide the end results you demand. Your suppliers will be able to provide parts testing to validate the results of the recommended process that will meet your specification requirements.
Where human life is dependent upon the cleanliness of every part is how I define critical cleaning. For example, space flight. Some of you may include parts that go into an automobile. I do not disagree, and I do not think the term we choose for a cleaning process is critical to the outcome. What is critical is that you understand your cleanliness requirement and understand how to implement a cleaning process to achieve the resulting specification requirements.
The art of precision cleaning is not new. We hear about it more now as this is the expectation across virtually all industries. If you are not familiar with precision cleaning, the MCA can provide a foundational information to begin your search.
Thank you for being an MCA member.
Welcome New Members
JCOM Import, Indianapolis, Indiana
New Cleaning Resource Now Available
MCA member company Alconox Inc. announces its new critical cleaning resource titled, “The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook.” The handbook, now in its 5th edition, distills and presents practical information covering the history of aqueous detergents, what they are, how they work, and how to make best use of them.
The book is written by several senior members of Alconox Inc. These specialists have provided their expertise and insight to craft this latest edition. Authors include Michael J. Moussourakis, Jeff I. Phillips, Stacy R. Silverstein and Malcolm C. McLaughlin.
“We are excited to update ‘The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook’ for our customers and the wider industry,” says lead author, Michael J. Moussourakis, VP, technical marketing and strategy at Alconox Inc. “With the increasing demand for critical cleaning solutions in various industries, this book is a valuable resource for scientists, engineers, technicians, and everyone involved in the critical cleaning of parts and surfaces.”
Regarding the newest edition, Elliot M. Lebowitz, Alconox Inc. COO, remarks, “The time and effort that our team put into this edition was inspiring. As a partner in this 76-year-old family owned business, it makes me so proud.”
“This is a very approachable handbook with elements for those facing advanced cleaning issues for the first time as well as useful sections for the well-initiated,” adds Stuart B. Katz, CEO, Alconox Inc. and lead editor.
“The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook”, published by AI Technical Communications, is currently available in digital format and can be downloaded on the Alconox Inc. website for free.
Featured Article
Video: Why a Production Machine Shop Started a Baseball Bat Company
By Derek Korn, Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining
W.H. Bagshaw, a new MCA member company, is a 153-year-old manufacturer of precision, metal pins. It recently started a side business creating custom wooden baseball bats. The reasoning behind establishing this new company is intriguing, as is how it has helped create a stronger bond with the local community. READ MORE HERE!
MCA Committees Need Your Help
Our committees are an essential part of our association. Without them, we cannot function or reach our goals. Please consider volunteering to be a committee member for an exciting opportunity to be a part of a growing and important community!
Technical Committee: Contact Mike Valenti, mvalenti@hubbardhall.com
Membership/Events Committee: Jeff Beard, jbeard@brulin.com
Education Committee: Darren Williams, williams@shsu.edu
Marketing/Communications Committee: Lori Beckman, lbeckman@productionmachining.com
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