Wiping out VOCs
February 17th 2006 Charged by a large engineering firm to eliminate use of highly flammable solvents and reduce VOC emissions in degreasing operations before painting, Mykal Industries did just that.
The company undertakes sub-contract work for a multi-national heavy plant manufacturer, so working efficiency and performance could not be compromised.
The components being cleaned were very large metal structures. To achieve the level of cleanliness required hand cleaning was the only available option. To aid in the reduction of VOC emissions it was proposed a pre-impregnated wipe would be most suited to the task – as this controlled the amount of solvent used and would prove safer than using a ‘rag and can’ approach.
Trials were carried out using De.Solv.It High Performance Wipes (DSI 1000HPW). The initial reaction from the operators was very positive as the wipes were easier to carry around, very effective at removing the oil and grease, did not dry out as fast as the previous solvents used – and smelled better! According to Mykal, tests carried out on the trial panels showed excellent paint adhesion results and bulk trials were arranged confirming the initial findings.
The customer has now been using this system for over 12 months with no problems. It has successfully removed highly flammable solvents from the Paintshop Preparation area as well as reducing solvent consumption by around 80%.
If you would like more information about High Performance Wipes (DSI 1000HPW) see www.mykal.co.uk or use the email enquiry system below. More articles from Mykal Industries Ltd: | 
