Inline cleaning after deburring for residue-free surfaces

Founded in 2007, VULIC ECM GmbH & Co KG initially focused on the development and manufacture of customer-specific devices (tools) and spare parts for electrochemical machining (ECM). Seven years later, the first ECM system developed in-house followed with the V500 machining centre and the established service portfolio was expanded to include contract machining.

In ECM technology, burrs can be efficiently removed and edges rounded with precision, even in hard-to-reach areas such as blind holes, bore intersections and pockets. For the non-contact process, the tool is connected to a direct current source as the cathode (negative) and the component is polarized as the anode (positive). The charge exchange takes place in a saline electrolyte solution, whereby the burrs are completely dissolved and removed from the working gap by the electrolyte.

“For the quality and precision of ECM processes, it’s crucial that the parts to be machined are free of oil and grease,” explains Sascha Haushammer, sales manager at VULIC ECM. “In addition, enormously increased cleanliness requirements usually require cleaning after the ECM process to remove electrolyte residues and any particles adhering to the component.”


One company for cleaning media recommended Weber Ultrasonics AG as an efficient
partner for the ultrasonic equipment.

“We also spoke to other manufacturers at the time, but the collaboration with Weber Ultrasonics worked so well right from the start that we didn’t bring any other suppliers on board,” reports Haushammer. “We receive very good advice and have been able to build up a certain amount of expertise in ultrasonic cleaning over the years. Today, we only really need the expertise of Weber Ultrasonics for special projects.”

More information www.weber-ultrasonics.com

Why not consider a shot-blast machine retrofit?

Secure spare parts supply and improved blast performance, these were the reasons why a manufacturer of saw bands invested in new turbines for an existing belt-driven shot-blast machine. The customer chose the Rutten Gamma 330-HD turbines from Rösler not only because of their wear-resistant design, but also their 25 % higher blast performance and lower energy consumption. In the meantime, the customer decided to equip other blast machines in his manufacturing organisation with Rösler turbines.

The saw bands produced by this company are known all over the world for high quality. These steel strip products offer precision, exact edge dimensions and flatness. To maintain its quality standards, the company makes all its products in Germany, even though around 90% are exported to other countries. A key stage in the manufacturing process is a shot-blasting operation in a belt blast machine.

In short, the machine used for this shot-blasting task, supplied by a manufacturer in southern Europe, urgently needed modernisation. Therefore, the engineer responsible for streamlining manufacturing operations discussed the customer requirements with the Rösler team during a visit at the Deburring Expo exhibition.

The topic of this conversation was not only a secure spare parts supply and first-class technical service but also improved blast performance to provide a higher workpiece throughput. Based on the detailed process parameters provided by the customer, Rösler developed a technical concept and submitted a quote for retrofitting the turbines on
the existing blast machine.

The high performance of the Rutten Gamma turbines is based on their special design. They contain four Y-shaped throwing blades with a precisely calculated blade curvature. This concept guarantees precise blast media acceleration and delivery at maximum throwing speeds and, compared with conventional turbines, improved shot-blast efficiency.

More information www.rosler.com

Innovative all-rounder for water-based fine cleaning

With the new EcoCvario, Ecoclean has developed a flexible solution for water-based precision cleaning. The modular concept allows different cleaning technologies and drying processes to be combined and adapted to individual requirements in such a way that high cleanliness specifications can be met reproducibly, quickly and sustainably, reports Ecoclean. In addition, innovative equipment details, effective heat management, optimised media flow, and efficient media treatment contribute to cost- and resource-saving processes.

Increasing quality requirements are leading to more demanding cleaning tasks with high cleanliness specifications across all industries. This is regardless of whether mass-produced parts are to be cleaned as bulk goods or precision parts as set goods. These applications require application- and customer-specific fine cleaning processes, for which Ecoclean has developed the new EcoCvario.

The powerful spray-flood cleaning system with vacuum-tight working chamber is designed for batches weighing up to 150 kg and measuring a maximum of 650 x 470 x 400 mm The system features three flood tanks as standard. Its compact footprint and wide range of automation options also make it suitable for seamless integration into the production chain.

By using various cleaning technologies combined as required, this all-rounder can be adapted to a wide range of applications. For example, the pulsated pressure cleaning (PPC) pressure-change process enables contaminants to be reliably removed from complex internal geometries, fine capillaries, narrow undercuts, deep bores with small cross-
sections or the delicate structures of printed components.

With power-controlled ultrasound at different frequencies, individual vibration units can be selected or deselected depending on the application and parts. For stubborn contamination, high-pressure cleaning comes into its own. Gentle flooding ensures that delicate and sensitive components emerge from the cleaning system clean and undamaged, in line with requirements.

More information www.ecoclean-group.net

Parts2Clean 2025 exhibition exceeds expectations

The 21st edition of the Parts2Clean exhibition in Stuttgart attracted an impressive number of visitors who were able to take part in discussions and make contacts of outstanding quality. The 165 exhibitors from all areas of industrial cleaning technology presented a range of innovative solutions. Additionally, the bilingual p2c.EXPERTFORUM attracted a record number of participants. These factors together provided significant impetus for optimising process quality, productivity and efficiency with regard to costs and resources.

The exhibitors came to Stuttgart to show intelligent technical solutions for industrial parts and surface cleaning. The three days of Parts2Clean made it clear that there is a demand for such solutions, in spite of the currently challenging market conditions: trade visitors from 44 countries, more than 3200 in number, had brought just the right tasks and projects with them to the show.

“Compared with the 2023 event, the 21st edition not only chalked up a growing number of exhibiting companies and a net exhibition area of 4600 sq m, but also a small increase in visitor numbers,” reports Ramtin Randjbar-Moshtaghin, project director at Deutsche Messe AG.

The share of visitors from outside Germany was around 25%. The nations most represented after Germany were Switzerland, Austria, Türkiye and the Netherlands.

“For us as the organiser, however, the bare facts and figures are less important than whether the exhibiting companies were satisfied,” adds Randjbar-Moshtaghin.

And this year’s event also scored highly in this respect, as Samuel Wolf, managing director of cleaning system manufacturer Vapic GmbH, confirms: “By the end of the second day of the trade fair, we had already established more contacts than during the entire 2023 show.”

The next Parts2Clean will take place from 5 to 7 October 2027 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre.

More information www.parts2clean.de

Quickparts grows ‘limitless manufacturing’ commitment

Quickparts is reinforcing its commitment to ‘limitless manufacturing’ with the completion of a $2.5minvestment in new equipment and facility upgrades at its Seattle headquarters. The ‘on-demand’ manufacturer says the improvements establish the site as an aerospace and defence centre of excellence, strengthening its long-standing expertise in high-fidelity casting patterns and advanced stereolithography (SLA). At the same time, Quickparts is launching its Quick Mould solution — announced last month in the EMEA region — across North America, delivering production-quality moulded parts in as little as five days.
More information www.quickparts.com