Industrial degreasers

In addition to degreasers for metal parts, MotulTech supplies washing equipment such as biological parts washers, dosers, oil separators, and a complete range of services for monitoring and maintaining cleaning baths. These solutions help ensure consistent degreasing performance and long-term process reliability. 

Degreasing metal surfaces is an essential step to ensure the quality of the final product by eliminating substances and particles that could interfere with subsequent production stages. Effective metal parts degreasing supports surface quality, process reliability, and the durability of finished components. 

Different types of cleaners are selected depending on the materials involved, technical constraints, the nature of contaminants, and the specific objectives of the manufacturing process. 

Before heat treatment or surface treatments such as chrome plating, galvanisation, or powder coating, it is critical to thoroughly degrease metal parts to remove all organic and inorganic contaminants. Residues can affect heat uniformity, cause surface defects, or interfere with coating adhesion. 

Proper degreasing before treatment ensures both the quality and durability of the final surface finish. 

During manufacturing, repeated degreasing may be required between machining stages. Metal parts can accumulate residues such as cutting oils, protective products, soaps, or phosphates, which must be removed quickly to maintain machining precision and process continuity. 

Solvents are commonly used to dissolve stubborn oils and greases remaining after operations such as turning or milling. Composed of non-polar molecules, these solvents break down organic contaminants and enable fast, effective cleaning. 

Detergents and aqueous cleaners can also be used as degreasers for metal parts, depending on the application. The choice depends on the material being cleaned (aluminium, steel, cast iron, plastics), the type of contamination, and whether temporary corrosion protection is required. 

The nature of the detergent: acidic, neutral, or alkaline - is critical depending on whether the process involves desoxidation, dephosphatation, decarbonisation, or mineral residue removal. Equipment considerations such as foam resistance in spray washers and oil remover must also be considered to optimise cleaning performance and extend bath life. 

A3 solvents used in hermetically sealed vacuum washing machines offer a major advantage: they can be redistilled and regenerated for multiple cleaning cycles. These organic solvents, typically hydrocarbons or modified alcohols, feature narrow boiling ranges and high stability, enabling efficient regeneration by distillation. 

They are widely used after turning, stamping, and machining operations in industries such as medical, aerospace, watchmaking, automotive, and electronics. Their high cleaning efficiency allows for the removal of whole oils, soluble oils, and polishing pastes, while maintaining fast cycle times. 

Thanks to their low surface tension, A3 solvents are particularly effective as metal parts degreasers for complex geometries, including gaps, blind holes, and threaded components. 

The selection of an A3 solvent depends on the washing machine design and the type of contaminants to be treated, ensuring optimal performance and extended solvent life through efficient regeneration. 

SAFCO KLEEN V – A hydrocarbon-based solvent designed for organic contaminants, offering excellent stability in closed-loop systems. 

SAFCO KLEEN AL – A modified alcohol-based solvent capable of treating a wide range of soils while ensuring simple and efficient regeneration. 

Metal parts degreasing is essential to ensure the quality, precision, and durability of industrial components. Regardless of the metal type or equipment used, selecting the most suitable degreasing method is critical. 

MotulTech offers a comprehensive range of degreasers for metal parts, covering immersion, ultrasonic, and high-pressure spray cleaning methods. To ensure optimal results, a thorough understanding of materials, contaminants, and available cleaning technologies is often required. 

The nature of the contamination plays a key role in selecting the appropriate degreasing solution. Pollutants may include neat or soluble machining oils, greases, drawing compounds, corrosion protection products, carbon residues, oxides, polishing pastes, or particulate matter. The chemical composition, thickness, and adhesion level of these contaminants directly influence the choice of detergent chemistry (acidic, neutral, or alkaline) and cleaning process. 

The required level of cleanliness also depends on the next manufacturing step. Processes such as welding, brazing, heat treatment, coating, bonding, or painting demand a high degree of surface purity to ensure proper adhesion, mechanical strength, and long-term durability. Defining the final application in advance allows the cleaning performance to be aligned with the expected quality standards. 

If you have questions or would like to discuss the most appropriate metal parts degreasing solution for your production process, please contact us.