A rational production system reduces processing times, consequently increasing productivity. Effectively integrating industrial parts washers into the process allows you to achieve excellent results.

In this case study we see how we customized the HP Compact low pressure manual parts washer for luxury watchmaking.

The Client

An international symbol of luxury watchmaking, our client has over a century of history devoted to the pursuit of excellence. Its products represent a status recognized all over the world. The long production process integrates various skills and continuously perfects them; therefore, it must comply with the highest quality standards of the market.

The Goal

The customer needed to integrate and implement new processing, washing, rinsing and drying stations in the production process. The main objective was to continue guaranteeing rapid and excellent processes by combining two systems in a single solution: on the one hand the manufacturing and washing process, on the other that of rinsing and drying.

The new streamlined process had to reduce the processing times of that particular phase, leading to a general increase in productivity.

In short:

• Combine the washing phase with the rinsing and drying phase;
• Optimize production.

The Solution

Considering the requests, we immediately understood that a customized system could satisfy our customer's requests.

First, we turned to our distributor and detergent expert, to find together the ideal and specific washing product to meet the very high-quality requirements.

We then analysed the production system to fully understand how it works. We checked the size of the pieces to be washed and dried and the current and desired daily quantity. In this way we understood the production potential and identified the weaknesses of the process.

As we have said, the final product must comply with the highest quality standards. Therefore, it requires very tight times between processing, cleaning, rinsing and drying of the pieces. Furthermore, due to the size of the pieces and the quality control required, it was not possible to implement an automated process: the entire project required manual control.

Our solution was to create an operating station involving the four phases in a small space, so as to minimize the time between one and the other: we are talking about a few seconds.

Customization on part washer

Having defined a water-based and heated washing process, we chose the HP Compact parts washer as the standard model from which to evolve the customized solution. From the first test with the model, we understood that the two stations could not only be close: they had to be communicating.

We then made a tunnel between the two machines with a small communication tray. With the second test we optimized the pneumatic system with enhanced valves and fittings for the use of some specific processing tools.

During the design we were able to benefit from the notes taken during the on-site verification of our distributor and partner and from some technical meetings, from which the need for washing and further precautions in terms of safety also emerged.

In this sense, we have implemented a standard safety system in the customized parts washer with microswitch on opening the car doors and fumes extraction. We also included a fully customized dashboard that included a working hours counter.

Finally, we have included an extra filtration system with 10-micron filtration to prevent some processing parts from entering the washing system. This is in addition to our two standard stainless steel filtration systems present in the tank bottom and in the pump suction.

The Results

The goal has been successfully achieved. With our industrial parts washers, the company has speeded up and improved the working system of that particular process, increasing daily productivity and eliminating further processing steps. The customer was particularly satisfied because with this system the quality gap also decreased.

So much so that, after an initial period of verification, he is building a second machine with us and is planning another two, specific for a different company product. 

For our part, this exciting challenge has allowed us to test new solutions and integrate new options into our industrial parts washers, such as the programming of washing cycles and washing control.

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