In general, the three most common methods for paint and glue removal are felling, thermal and chemical, respectively. The felling method involves some form of mechanical processing such as blasting, grinding or tumbling. The consequent problems are wear, dirt and it is difficult to clean all surfaces.

In thermal treatment such as pyrolysis or fluidized sand bed, the goods are heated up to sometimes as much as 900 C to break down the coating. The consequent problems are dust, material impact and lost tolerances.

With the chemical method, it is the chemicals that dissolve or release the coating from the goods, often at temperatures around 80C. Possible problems with the chemical method are difficulties with certain coatings.

Through its product formulation, EnviroStripp Chemicals has developed a technology that reduces the common problems associated with the various methods for paint and glue removal. In particular, the high and even function of the process for a long time is a basic prerequisite for rational and qualitative cleaning.

The most common application for Stripp is cleaning production equipment. This involves everything from application equipment such as various mouthpieces, pipes and hoses, to fixtures, hangers and holders.

The most common reasons for cleaning are efforts to ensure cleanliness, reducing the risk of flakes, dust and other contaminants, and maintaining sensitive tolerances at fixing points. Other common reasons include a desire to achieve the best possible earthing on electrostatic paint application and avoiding shadowing.

Sometimes, manufactured components need to be cleaned. Problems, errors or construction technology limitations in the paint or adhesive application process can lead to poor quality, resulting in substandard components. In some cases, there may be too much or too little paint or adhesive. In other cases, the color shade or perhaps even damage to the paint or adhesive coating may mean that the end result cannot be approved.

Stripp®’s unique ability to remove both paint and adhesive without affecting most underlying layers or surface treatments makes it ideal for bringing rejected components back into the production flow. The cleaned components can often go straight for painting or gluing after rinsing, since Stripp® is both gentle and water-soluble.

The surface to be treated
What kind of treatment can the material and any surface treatment withstand?

Design
How will the dimensions and tolerances of the components be affected?
What strength requirements and fatigue risks are there?
What type of cleaning is most suitable for the design of the components?

Cleanliness
What requirements does the application process entail in terms of cleanliness from dirt and dust?
What coverage does the method achieve for the components?

Environment
What do the environmental policy and ISO 14000 say?
What requirements are there in terms of emissions?
What are the working environment requirements?

Points to consider when choosing chemicals.

Chemical composition
Is the liquid thermally and chemically stable?

Environmental properties
How is the external environment affected?
What working environment can be achieved?

Functionality
What processing time is achieved?
How are the components affected?

Lifetime
How long are the chemicals expected to keep working?

Reliability
How consistent is the processing time over time?
What support/service exists in order to obtain the optimum operating conditions?

Equipment
What equipment is required for application and handling?

Waste
What form of waste is produced?
How does this waste need to be dealt with?

Stripp® – EnviroStripp’s chemicals
Not only are EnviroStripp’s products chemically and thermally stable, they are also gentle to materials and surface treatments.
The choice of raw materials is based on a combination of functionality and environmental considerations. High levels of functionality are required for rational operations, while the internal and external environments must be respected.
The possibility of achieving a long lifetime with consistent quality helps to make the system financially advantageous.

The process
The industrial processes for cleaning using Stripp® are simple. The components to be cleaned are dipped into a bath containing heated Stripp®. Once the process is completed, the components are removed and then rinsed off with water.

Equipment
The equipment can be simple, with just a tank and a rinsing plate in a well-ventilated location. In other cases, the process may be more sophisticated, with more use of technology and automation. Generally speaking, we recommend simplicity when it comes to designing equipment.

The mass balance
Stripp® is normally a water-based formulation. The fluid is exhausted through a natural extract to the ventilation system (emission) and the rinsing step when the bath is used. In the latter case, it is fluid that accompanies the material and the residue (paint or adhesive residues). The amount of fluid exhausted varies from case to case, and can be influenced to some degree.

Maintenance
The system has a unique advantage in that, with the right maintenance, the Stripp® bath can have a long life span. The most important thing is to ensure that the correct water content is used. The bath is also conditioned with new fluid as the fluid is exhausted. In addition, the bath should be cleaned of paint residue on an ongoing basis.

Waste
Since most paints and adhesives are released from the underlying layer, i.e. they are not dissolved, the residue from the process consists of flakes and particles. Since they are hardened, they are stable compounds that can be separated from the system through filtration or sedimentation.
To achieve a low waste moisture content, Stripp® fluid can be pressed from the waste. The recovered fluid can then be returned to the process.
When recovering rinsing water through evaporation, some of the process chemicals can be recovered.

Servicing and support
For optimum reliability, EnviroStripp Chemicals provides a servicing system to check the functionality and structure of the bath.
For optimum operating conditions, the system can be monitored continuously by EnviroStripp Chemicals’ laboratory. The customer receives ongoing operating suggestions from the laboratory, based on analysis samples.

Results
Our goal is that our customers should achieve the best possible long-term end results from the cleaning process, with consistent, stable operation. This ensures safety combined with excellent profitability, with good environmental conditions.

Competitive industrial applications feature sound finances, environmental qualities and functionality. Our aim is to be the best short- and long-term alternative, both financially and in terms of the environment.

Sound finances are essential for long-term solutions. This requires that the bath has a long life and provides consistent quality. EnviroStripp Chemicals achieves this with its products.

Poor quality sometimes occurs in connection with painting or gluing, leading to the need for reworking.

Cleaning components for re-use brings certain costs that must be compared not only with the components’ manufacturing value, but also with the logistical cost and the environmental impact.

Cost
The equipment investment cost
The operating cost of cleaning
Maintenance of the equipment

Saving
The lost value of rejected components
The logistical cost, buffer stocks and the risk of downtime
The environmental cost of rejecting components

There are two main aspects to consider when cleaning production equipment:
the total cost picture for fixtures/fixture handling
capital tied up

EnviroStripp Chemicals takes an overall view, including all costs in the calculation. Traditionally, these costs are spread across a number of areas of responsibility and cost centres, such as painting, preparation, operation and maintenance, design and purchasing. It is therefore sometimes difficult to get a clear overview and to reduce the total cost.

A study carried out on one of EnviroStripp Chemicals’ customers before and after implementing EnviroStripp’s process revealed a number of indirect costs alongside the direct costs. The main indirect costs related to production disruption, quality and high production equipment maintenance costs. Following the implementation of EnviroStripp’s process, the customer was able to cut these indirect costs significantly.

The use of painting fixtures is often associated with significant investment costs. Since the equipment required also tends to be more sophisticated, it is desirable that this should be usable for as long as possible without needing to carry out repairs. This means that a gentle yet effective cleaning method is required.

A process that is gentle and effective but still reliable can reduce the capital tied up in fixtures considerably. An analysis of a vehicle manufacturer’s fixture handling showed that investment costs, and thus capital tied up, could be reduced by almost 40% through factors such as shorter process times and an even flow.