How Clean is Clean?   For manufacturers that wash parts during the production process, cleanliness requirements depend largely on the product's function, material, and subsequent production steps. Defining how clean is "clean enough" typically involves: Industry Standards: Some industries, like aerospace, automotive, and medical devices, have strict cleanliness speci …

By Steven Onsager, P.E. Years ago, I worked with a guy whose previous job was selling heating elements for Chromalox. When a customer would ask, “How long will these heaters last?” he would reply, “Forever, if you never turn them on.” This was his glib way of indicating that equipment and component life is dependent upon usage. The more you use something …

Routine maintenance is like routine exercise; we know that it is good for us in the long term, but it is easy to find excuses to skip doing it. A convection-style industrial oven or dryer is the type of equipment that can easily achieve a useful life of 20 or 30 years. But regular and ongoing maintenance is critically important in keeping that oven or dryer safe and in good ope …

Capital equipment purchases as substantial as an industrial oven deserve serious consideration. Before you buy, you must determine if your oven requires a custom design or whether a standard size and function will meet your needs. Consider the complexities of your production process carefully. Committing to a standard size and layout, only to later discover it doesn't meet your …

In most tasks, preparation is key to success. Metal finishing is no exception. If your production involves liquid paint or powder coating, then it is absolutely essential your manufacturing pretreatment process is optimized. Why? Consider the many ways a complete and thorough prewash/pretreat impacts the production of your product: Surface Prep for Improved Adhesion: Proper cl …