The washing of industrial products and components is performed with specialized washing systems that combine convenience and efficiency and produce an excellent result, minimizing the use of chemicals, water and energy. The research and improvement of sustainable practices is thus carried out in such a way as to make the need for cleaning of industrial components coincide with durability and efficiency and affordability in a model based on saving resources.

Here is the Eco-washing that contributes to savings on net cleaning costs, through an analysis of energy and water savings, throughout the life of the machine and equipment costs.

Operating costs are determined by various factors:

• Cost of the solvent and of the detergent (price per liter of the degreasing solution);
• Cost of the energy required for heating the degreasing and rinsing baths;
• Cost of water for running the cycle or for cooling;
• Costs of disposal of exhausted product.

The industrial washing systems available at Firbimatic Metal-cleaning are basically divided into two types:

• Water and detergent washing technology;
• Solvent washing technology with hermetic circuit

When choosing between a water-based system and a solvent-based system, it is advisable to consider all these different aspects, avoiding making hasty decisions and by simple intuition.

Water and detergent washing systems

Contrary to what one might think, industrial washing using solvents can be more eco-friendly than traditional washing systems with water and detergents.

In fact, during the operation of the washing systems with water and detergent, the latter must go through different steps.

In fact, water is used in large quantities, it must then be heated and then mixed with detergents. After use, it is filtered and finally disposed of. Obviously, after this process, there is no possibility of recycling it. From the point of view of environmental impact, this process respects the planet as there is no release of toxic substances in nature, however the water filtering processes for disposal are expensive in terms of energy, resources and money.

Solvent washing systems

Solvent-based washing systems are more environmentally friendly as they are fully recyclable and closed-circuit.

Chemical solvents can be reused several times, after a careful post-use distillation process. During the year, washing machines have a modest consumption of solvents, equal to a few liters per year.

In terms of energy consumption, solvent-based systems consume less energy as the latent heat required for boiling the solvents is lower than those of water.