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Paint and Coatings Removal
Specialized cleaning of chemical and corrosive buildup
Cleaning equipment used in paint and coating manufacturing presents its own set of challenges due to the nature of the materials involved and the need to maintain product quality and safety.
These encompass handling hazardous chemicals safely, adhering to regulatory standards for cleaning and waste management, and ensuring proper maintenance of equipment like spray nozzles and filtration systems to uphold performance and longevity.
Featured solution: Reactor Tank Cleaner
Typically, reactors are cleaned manually via confined space entry and shotgunning or with 3-D tools that may be unable to thoroughly clean the reactor due to internal obstructions.
With a fully automated reactor cleaning system, it is as easy as initiating the cleaning cycle from the comfort of your control room. The CIP is programmed to control time on the cleaning station, speed, etc. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, the tool returns home and is isolated from the reactor. There is no need to open the reactor, ventilate, or place personnel in harm’s way.
Our systems use standard tooling adapted to clean your reactor or tank and its unique internal configuration. Tooling is based on standard off-the-shelf tools modified to your specific application, thus lowering cost and easing spare parts availability.
- Systems can be designed to clean reactors and tanks with impellers, coils, paddles, and limited access points
- Automation eliminates the need to make dangerous confined space entries
- A wide range of options avaible to meet your cleaning needs and budgetary constraints
Paint Totes
Cleaning paint totes poses challenges due to the buildup of adhesive residues, which may contain pigments and additives that stain surfaces, necessitating thorough cleaning. Additionally, compatibility with cleaning agents is crucial to avoid damage to sensitive materials, while rapid and effective cleaning methods are essential for minimizing downtime during batch changeovers.
- Residue buildup: Paint totes can accumulate dried paint and coating residues over time, which can be difficult to remove due to their adhesive nature. Residues may also contain pigments and additives that can stain or discolor equipment surfaces.
- Compatibility with cleaning agents: Some paint totes are made from materials that may be sensitive to certain cleaning agents or solvents. Compatibility testing is essential to avoid damage to equipment during the cleaning process.
- Batch changeover: Switching between different paint formulations requires thorough cleaning of totes to prevent contamination and ensure product quality. Rapid and effective cleaning methods are necessary to minimize downtime between batches.
Paint Reactors and Tanks
Cleaning paint reactors and tanks presents challenges due to the viscosity of paint formulations, requiring specialized techniques like mechanical agitation or high-pressure washing for effective removal. Additionally, the strong adherence of pigments and additives necessitates intensive cleaning efforts to ensure thorough removal from reactor and tank surfaces, while careful consideration must be given to prevent corrosion and fouling during cleaning procedures.
- Viscous materials: Paint and coating formulations can be highly viscous, making them difficult to remove from reactor and tank surfaces. Specialized cleaning techniques such as mechanical agitation or high-pressure washing may be required.
- Residual pigments and additives: Pigments and additives used in paint formulations may adhere strongly to reactor and tank surfaces, requiring intensive cleaning efforts to ensure complete removal.
- Corrosion and fouling: Reactors and tanks may be susceptible to corrosion and fouling from prolonged exposure to aggressive chemicals used in paint manufacturing. Cleaning systems must be carefully designed to resist breakdown in the harsh environment and remove corrosion products and fouling deposits without causing further damage.
Process Pipes
Cleaning process piping poses challenges due to narrow passages that can trap residues, necessitating high-pressure flushing for effective cleaning. Additionally, the risk of cross-contamination between different paint lines underscores the importance of strict protocols for flushing and purging, while addressing scale and deposits inside pipes requires the use of chemical agents or mechanical scraping to maintain flow rates and product quality.
- Narrow passages: Process pipes often have narrow diameters and complex geometries that can trap paint residues and cleaning agents. Mechanical pigging systems or high-pressure flushing may be necessary to clean pipes effectively.
- Cross-contamination risk: Cross-connections between different paint lines or batches increase the risk of contamination if pipes are not cleaned properly. Strict protocols for flushing and purging process pipes are essential to prevent cross-contamination.
- Scale and deposits: Scale and deposits can accumulate inside process pipes over time, reducing flow rates and compromising product quality. Chemical cleaning agents or mechanical scraping may be required to remove scale and deposits effectively.
Common challenges across all types of equipment in paint and coating manufacturing include:
- Safety considerations: Paint cleaning processes may involve hazardous chemicals or solvents that require proper handling and disposal procedures to ensure worker safety and environmental compliance.
- Regulatory compliance: The paint and coating industry is subject to regulations and standards regarding equipment cleaning, waste management, and emissions control. Compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid penalties and legal liabilities.
- Equipment maintenance: Proper maintenance of cleaning equipment such as spray nozzles, pumps, and filtration systems is necessary to ensure consistent cleaning performance and prolong equipment lifespan.
Addressing these challenges requires a combination of appropriate equipment design, effective cleaning protocols, and adherence to regulatory requirements to ensure the safety, quality, and sustainability of paint and coating manufacturing processes.
Want to work together on your unique challenge?
Our Solutions team is happy to work with you through the details of your project.
Partnerships that work
The safety and efficiency benefits of automated methods for industrial cleaning demonstrate why these are quickly becoming standards of operation. We believe that successful adoption of automated technologies requires a partnership between servicce providers, asset owners, and manufacturers of waterblasting equipment.
StoneAge Solutions can help asset owners understand the benefits of adopting automated waterblasting solutions and help industrial cleaning service providers improve their effectiveness by successfully engaging plants. We partner with all parties to provide job assessments, on-site plant visits, presentations, and live demonstrations of hands-free, automated equipment.
