There are a number of reasons as to why an industrial organization will need to complete the process of parts cleaning.
This process is a prelude to other processes like surface finishing, electroplating, and painting, but it is also needed to protect sensitive equipment.
Machinery naturally accumulates dust, grease, and other contaminants while machining processes are completed.
"Parts cleaning" is therefore a way for companies to protect their investment in expensive machinery by removing contaminants and extending the machine's lifespan.
Companies typically complete this cleaning by using degreasers, which are substances that remove contaminants like grease from the machine's surface.
Unfortunately, many industrial degreasers that are used today pose risks to the environment and to the health of employees working with these substances.
Many industrial degreasers have been shown to produce reproductive, liver, and kidney damage, while introducing toxicity to the nervous system.
These chemicals also produce hazardous bi-products that can reach the environment by escaping in the air or in the water that is used during the cleaning process.
Sick workers not only reduce workplace productivity because they are unable to come in to work, but could even bring a lawsuit against the company if unsafe exposure to degreasers is shown to have caused permanent complications.
The best way to eliminate health and environmental damage is to use organic solvents.
These substances are different than degreasers because they use chemical processes to structurally break down contaminants.
One of the main reasons that organic solvents are more beneficial to the environment is because of how they are structured.
These chemicals are organic, which means that they are made up entirely of natural ingredients.
Additionally, organic solvents are safe to use because they are applied without being diluted.
Employees can spray, brush, or wipe the substance onto the machine's surface, or submerge the parts in cleaning machines that have been built to use solvents.
After organic solvents have been applied, they will remove contaminants by using water.
These chemicals will not upset the environment by being removed with water, which also means that the company does not have to pay hazardous chemical disposal fees.
As companies come to realize the benefits of using organic substances instead of unsafe degreasers, they should note that the green movement faces many challenges.
Some cleaning chemicals are not produced organically, so companies should pressure those chemical producers to produce their chemicals organically, or find a safer alternative.
Also, companies must make sure that the products that are advertised as "green" and "eco-friendly" abide by that standard.
Some manufacturers promote a product as "organic" simply because it contains biomass, but companies should do their research when evaluating these products.
True organic solvents contain environmentally friendly ingredients and are produced in a way that does not harm the environment.
Finally, companies should make sure that cleaning processes or products that use organic solvents are safe, as some distillation processes emit harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Companies that care about protecting employees and the environment should replace harmful degreasers that are used in the parts cleaning processes.
After completing their due diligence, the company will be able to find organic solvents that meet its parts cleaning needs.