How Can Industry Reduce Annual Energy Consumption?

Energy use is a significant cost and sustainability consideration for industrial businesses. Modernising parts cleaning equipment, improving insulation and reducing cleaning times can all help lower energy consumption without compromising cleaning performance.

Why does parts cleaning affect energy consumption?

Parts cleaning can require significant energy, particularly where equipment heats cleaning solutions or operates for long cycles. Older or poorly insulated machines can lose heat during operation, increasing energy demand and extending cleaning times.

Choose well-insulated cleaning equipment

Modern automatic spray washers can use closed circuits, sealed joints and double-wall construction to improve insulation. Safetykleen testing has found that modern technology can significantly reduce energy consumption compared with poorly insulated equipment, while reducing heat loss and helping to shorten cleaning cycles.

Replacing outdated equipment should therefore be considered alongside other energy-efficiency measures, particularly where parts washing is a frequent or continuous operation.

Reduce energy by shortening cleaning times

The cleaning chemistry, temperature, mechanical action and cleaning time all influence the energy required for a process. Selecting the right water-based chemistry and cleaning method can improve cleaning efficiency and reduce the time equipment needs to operate.

Safetykleen’s Purified Cleaning Technology (PCT) uses purified water to improve cleaning performance. The company states that its purified water removes 99% of impurities from mains water and can help halve cleaning time in suitable applications.

Reduce water and chemical consumption too

Closed-loop systems recirculate cleaning solution rather than requiring a fresh solution for every cycle. Correct chemistry selection and dilution can also reduce chemical consumption while maintaining cleaning performance.

A more efficient cleaning process

Energy efficiency does not have to mean compromising cleanliness. By combining appropriately specified equipment, effective chemistry, efficient operating cycles and regular maintenance, manufacturers can reduce the resources required to clean parts while maintaining consistent results.