Located just west of the Las Vegas Strip, Wik’s Racing has been building and repairing racing engines and custom engines for built-to-order and sophisticated street machines for over 10 years. About 90% of Adam’s business consists of working on off-road engines which need frequent maintenance. These engines are put to the test across the American Southwest and Mexico in off-road races that include the Parker 425 and the Baja 1000. The engines range from air-cooled VW four-cylinders to water-cooled small-block Chevy V8s for trophy trucks, and Corvette 427 LS1s for unlimited class 1 cars. Every race or two, customers’ engines head back to Wik’s to be repaired, cleaned and made ready for the next match.
“These engines have to go out like they’re brand-new every time,” says owner Adam Wik. His racing team clients expect a high quality of workmanship because the demands of off-road racing pack oil and carbon deep into engine parts. His team soon gained a very good reputation in the industry. However, Adam was faced with a problem. He used a solvent recycling service that came to his shop and exchanged his multi-gallon drums on a regular basis, and combined with hot water spray tanks, his process for cleaning engines all adding up to wasted time, additional manual labor, and costly chemicals.
Adam learned about the benefits of ultrasonic cleaning and began doing research. “I looked into a few manufacturers but I was impressed with Omegasonics’ reputation. They stood out,” said Adam. “They have a great machine and were real easy to deal with.” After a hands-on session with Omegasonics products at a tradeshow, Adam purchased the Omegasonics Super Pro with a 45 gallon capacity and 4000 watts of ultrasonic power. For his cleaning solution, he chose OmegaClean, an Omega Chemistry product that removes oil, carbon, and contaminants from a variety of metals. OmegaClean’s buffers protect aluminum finishes and its silicates guard against flash rusting.
“Anything you want to get clean ... it goes in that tank.” Adam Wik, Owner, Wik's Racing
Adam had a long list of difficult, dirty parts destined for his Omegasonics. Every carburetor went into the bath, along with pistons, crankshafts, rods and oil lines. “There’s nothing like it for fine cleaning,” Adam attested. “It gets into places you can’t see.” Foreign material washes out of ring lands and carbon deposits lift off of piston tops. Overall shop productivity has improved with Omegasonics. As an example, Adam estimates one hour in labor savings when cleaning a piston set. “Anything you want clean … it goes in that tank,” he said.
The news about the cleaning power of Omegasonics has spread to other power sports racing outfits in the area. “We have teams sending us their custom oil coolers, transmission coolers and radiators,” Adam revealed. “That’s a nice piece of extra business and a vote of confidence in Wik’s Racing, thanks to Omegasonics.”
Plastic injection molding offers many benefits to the buying public. Lightweight durable plastics are designed to enhance the American way of life. The challenges facing plastic injection molders today involve not only keeping up with demand and staying on top of advanced techniques, but also making sure that molds are kept clean and in good working order.
Most injection molds are still cleaned the old fashioned way with labor-intensive hand scrubbing and solvents. Molds become contaminated with grease, hydraulic oil, rust, grime, carbon, aluminum shavings and material gassing. Molds that are not properly cleaned generate waste product. Cleaner molds are easier to run and maintain.
A mold before being washed in an Omegasonics ultrasonic cleaner
One such plastic injection molding company is Kaysun Corporation which is headquartered in Manitowoc, WI. Kaysun was established in 1947 during the early years of injection molding, and some of their first products were model airplanes parts, cookware, and commodity items.
Recently, Kaysun’s business has been expanding rapidly because of their willingness and desire to invest in cutting-edge technologies to solve a variety of customer needs from automotive to industrial to military markets. Kaysun’s program manager, Gordon Schwartz, attended a lean manufacturing certification course and was tasked in finding a solution that would streamline their plastic injection mold cleaning process. At the time, Kaysun employed three technicians in the mold maintenance department, but because business was expanding, they were going to bring on a fourth individual to handle the increased volume. After extensive research, Schwartz found his solution in ultrasonics. Then, after testing very ultrasonic units, Schwartz determined that Kaysun could avoid hiring that fourth technician, and save a considerable amount of money, by purchasing an Omegasonics ultrasonic parts washer.
After implementation, Schwartz reported to us that, as a result of ultrasonics, molds at Kaysun were being cleaned exceedinglywell. The company began to realize:
A decrease in start-up time;
Less waste;
Fewer labor hours dedicated to trouble-shooting required by the mold technician; and;
A reduction in line downtime.
The same mold after being washed in an Omegasonics ultrasonic cleaner
In addition, another benefit of a properly cleaned mold is the increased ability for the plastic injection molder to pursue more profitable, highly-energized projects. Because of deeper crevices and cracks, an injection molder that is confined to only hand cleaning cannot effectively and profitably compete in this arena. Thus, they are hamstrung by being confined to lower profit, highly competitive projects that involve mainly flat surfaces.
Omegasonics helps Kaysun Corporation stay on the cutting edge of the plastic injection mold industry by helping them reduce labor costs and product waste, all the while boosting efficiency and product quality. Their wise investment in ultrasonic technology has given Kaysun a distinct competitive advantage in the marketplace.
For more information about what kind of ultrasonic cleaning technology is the best fit for your company’s needs, we invite you to check out www.Omegasonics.com or give our team of ultrasonic cleaning experts a call toll-free at (888) 726-3130.
The state of Georgia is known for very active weather patterns where clouds stack up and appear out of nowhere. Vicious electrical storms light up the Georgia sky. The lightning strikes are random and ruthless when they hit the roof of a home or industrial building. Fires break out causing both smoke and water damage. Since 1996, Paul Davis Restoration South Atlanta has helped Georgians put their lives back together when disaster hits.
For years, Paul Davis Restoration used the industry standard for restoring damaged contents—cleaning each piece manually by hand, one piece at a time. As VP of Sales Doug Blount explained, “We did everything the old way”. PDR employed up to six people to slowly and methodically clean boxes of contents using an array of Q-tips, rags, brushes and picks. It was not uncommon to take up to 1½ hours to clean a single box of contents. Many intricate items could not be restored at all and were claimed as total losses by the insurance company.
“I don‘t know how we survived without it. We are tickled. The equipment is just awesome. We absolutely love it!” Doug Blount Paul Davis Restoration Stockbridge, Georgia
Owner Allen McHenry decided to have an outside company take a look at their cleaning process design. After this task was completed by Total Contentz, the PDR management team set out to investigate which restoration equipment they would purchase. After researching several vendors, PDR of South Atlanta chose the Omegasonics Restoration Pro® System. Doug said, “The equipment seemed more industrial and the value was exceptional. The decision was really a no-brainer”.
On PDR’s first project armed with the Restoration Pro® System, Doug and his team were able to save an insurance adjuster $35,000 on an assortment of delicate, extremely intricate figurines and Hummels that were to be total lossed. Doug estimates, “It would have taken a month and a half to clean those boxes with the old method, if we could have cleaned them at all! With our new equipment, we did the job in under one week. We have easily increased what we can salvage and have become a lot more profitable.”
The benefits of the Restoration Pro® System go even further than just the bottom line increase in profits. Says Doug, “Our contents division is growing because we now have a more defined way to market our services. What I would tell anyone in the restoration business is that the (Omegasonics) equipment saves money, cleans better and faster, and is a heck of a marketing tool!”
If you have further questions, feel free to contact one of our Restoration experts toll free at (888) 726-3130.
The global demand for base and precious metals continues to climb in today’s vast economy. Heavily specialized machinery is needed for mining development and exploration. Bulldozers, explosives, and drills are all used everyday in different mining ventures. Because of the extreme nature mining commands, safety has always been a long and controversial issue.
One of our clients, Joy Mining Machinery, has implemented safety procedures and programs that constantly monitor the assurance of workplace safety. Not surprising to us, the basis for this program stems from the use of ultrasonic technology to clean and maintain safe and effective mining equipment in the field.
Joy Mining Machinery is effectively using ultrasonic technology to safely clean and maintain mining equipment in the field.
Traditional methods for cleaning mining parts involved hours of soaking parts in petroleum-based liquids to remove rock shavings, oils, and dust. Ineffective machines led to broken gears and drills causing an unstable or unsafe environment for employees. By using ultrasonic cleaning, a growing number of mining companies have been able to to eliminate the need for workers to come into direct contact with these harsh and toxic chemicals. Ultrasound creates microscopic vacuum bubbles that remove residue from surfaces not reachable by brushes or picks. By switching to ultrasonic technology, mining companies are able to significantly reduce overhead costs by decreasing labor and inspection times.
For this type of industrial parts cleaning, we recommend using OmegaClean, our water-based cleaning soap that handles the widest range of metals and dirt. OmegaClean also contains a rust inhibitor to prevent flash rusting on ferrous metals.
Mining companies that are using ultrasound systems across the globe aren’t necessarily searching for gold these days, but they’ve sure found it with ultrasonic technology! For more information about OmegaClean, please check out our selection of industrial cleaning soaps. Also, if you have further questions, feel free to contact one of our ultrasonic cleaning experts toll free at (800) 669-8227.
Labor day has passed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a great day out on the lake or in the mountains. Activities such as boating, riding, and jet skiing are a lot of fun for friends and family. But what isn’t fun is the teardown and maintenance process. If you own one of these types of “fun vehicles”, then you know what I am describing. Cleaning and washing dirt, carbon, and road grime from outboard motors, engine parts, etc. from motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles or jet skis by hand requires a lot of work. If you clean these parts professionally, your employees are also using up valuable energy and resources that could be used to improve customer satisfaction and, possibly, additional sales and service.
In the power sports industry, carburetors, suspensions, inner primaries, fuel injectors, heads, cases, and pistons are only a few of the complex parts that need to be cleaned thoroughly after heavy usage.
Ultrasonic cleaning technology eliminates the need to spend precious hours washing expensive power sport components that usually require harsh and toxic chemicals. In the power sports industry, carburetors, suspensions, inner primaries, fuel injectors, heads, cases and pistons are only a few of the complex parts that need to be cleaned thoroughly after heavy usage.
With ultrasound, minimal disassembly is required. Just put the parts in the tank and let it do all the work, not your employees. Ultrasound is able to clean the oil and grime found in the tiniest crevices, a very difficult task for brushes and other types cleaning tools. Along with safety and environmental benefits, ultrasonic technology also ensures customer satisfaction on every job.
Specialty Marine in Oxnard, CA has recently switched to ultrasound and uses our specialized water based cleaning agent, OmegaClean. This skin friendly soap removes oil, grease, carbon and other contaminants much better than aerosol chemicals previously used by hand.
Power sport vehicles can be very exciting to ride, but very expensive to own. With ultrasonic technology on your side, you can help decrease costs, allowing you to focus on the ride! For more information on the benefits of ultrasound in the power sport industry, please see: www.Omegasonics.com/PowerSports or feel free to contact one of our ultrasonic cleaning experts toll free at (800) 669-8227.
Halfway between Detroit and Kalamazoo, on I-94 in Jackson, is the Eaton Aerospace facility. Founded in 1940, the onset of WWII helped establish Eaton’s preeminence in fluid power technology, as its Aeroquip brand components went into America’s military aircraft. Today, Eaton Aerospace continues the tradition by creating products that convey air, oil, water and Freon for aviation and marine applications. The Airbus 380, the world’s largest passenger jet, uses assemblies made at the Jackson facility in its landing gear. America’s new fighters, the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 JSF, have wings plumbed with Aeroquip brand fluid conveying products.
“...Our Omegasonics units are here to stay. For any future needs, Omegasonics is our #1 choice.” Bud Greener Manufacturing Engineer Aeroquip Group of Eaton.
At Eaton, Bud Greener is a Manufacturing Engineer who oversees the process that bends straight tubing into complex shapes that go into the world’s most sophisticated aircraft. Stainless steel, carbon steel and titanium tubes arrive from mills in diameters ranging from 3/4 inch to 3 inches. Tube sections are cut to length and bent with a mandrel, a lubricated tool inserted within the tube to prevent kinking. Prior to the mandrel’s use, dust and particles must often be cleaned out of the tubes. Post-bending cleaning is mandatory to remove oils and tube bending lubricants. Air is forced through the tubes for final cleaning and drying. “People are fussy about how their tubes look,” said Bud, indicating the need for a clean, well-machined final product that meets internal quality standards.
For many years, Bud and his team cleaned tubing with mineral spirits and Stoddard solvent. The runoff went into a filtered tank, which a contractor would rotate. Stoddard solvent is a petroleum mixture with special storage, usage and disposal considerations. Eaton Aerospace decided to pursue an environmentally-friendly solution to their cleaning needs.
Bud and his manufacturing manager attended the WESTEC show, and were impressed with two models of ultrasonic cleaners: the Omegasonics Super Pro and the Omegasonics Pro Plus, floor machines equipped with wheels for maximum flexibility in placement and shop layout. “Omegasonics wasn’t the cheapest or the most expensive,” said Bud. “They had an excellent product for the money and a commitment to customer service. Omegasonics is very easy to work with, even from 2000 miles away,” Bud said. “The retrofit and all other support needs have been handled in a very responsive manner.”
Omegasonics reduces the hand labor required to make a tube ready for shipment. “Before we went ultrasonic, we cleaned tubes manually,” said Bud. “Now we just put them in the Omegasonics unit, adjust the settings, and walk away to do something else while they’re being cleaned.” Bud calculates that ultrasonic cleaning eliminates 5 to 10 minutes of hand labor per tube. Multiplied by the facility’s output, this turns into a conservative 20 hours of saved labor per week. “Our plant can’t afford to be slowed down or stopped. Omegasonics’ dependability and service is part of our operational success,” Bud confirmed. “As far as our employees and management are concerned, our Omegasonics units are here to stay. For any future needs, Omegasonics is our #1 choice.”
For more information on how ultrasonic cleaning can help your company save time and money with industrial parts cleaning, please call our team at (800) 669-8227, or email us at Omegasonics@Omegasonics.com.
In the 1980’s, the U.S. government began to crack down on un-safe industrial cleaning chemicals, and created the need for new, safer, greener, water-based cleaning solutions: one of the key alternatives being ultrasonic cleaning technology.
There are hundreds of industries that use ultrasound as their first choice for safe and effective parts cleaning.
As government regulations on toxic chemicals used in the workforce were tightened, industrial companies were frantically searching for newer and safer ways to clean their dirty, oily, and contaminated parts. Today, it is more important than ever to maintain and achieve the highest quality levels of precision cleaning in many different industries due to constantly changing requirements.
Other methods of aqueous-based industrial cleaning can use a lot of water, which goes directly down the drain or has to be collected and disposed of properly depending on the toxic levels. Water waste can come from the manufacturing process, scrubbers, mops, tanks and more. There are several technologies that recycle water but these systems can be costly especially for smaller operations. Despite the effort and resources, none of them have been nearly as effective as ultrasound.
Are you in a specialized industry that could benefit from ultrasonic cleaning? Take a look at some of these industrial ultrasonic cleaning case studies to see how companies of every size are cleaning more efficiently and increasing their bottom line!
Imagine cleaning a saw blade with just rags and some cleaning chemicals. Do you really want anyone’s fingers near those sharp metal tips when they can’t see the edges? With ultrasonic technology you can eliminate the nervousness surrounding cleaning saw blades.
Ultrasonic cleaning can eliminate the nervousness surrounding cleaning saw blades.
After rigorous use in the field, cutting tips on saw edge blades edges become dull. Traditionally, a lot of prep time is required before actually sharpening the blade. For many years, blades would come into the repair shop coated with “wood pitch” and then get dunked into a tank with caustic lye (better known as drain cleaner). Highly caustic solution would be an understatement! The next day, these blades would be taken out of this toxic soak bath drained and placed into a sawdust bin to absorb moisture. Once this process is complete, the blades are ready to be sharpened. A full overnight prepping process before any sharpening or repair can be started.
This 24-hour process is completely eliminated when using ultrasonic cleaning technology for saw blades. With ultrasound the same end result takes only 30 minutes. Plus, it’s a whole lot safer for your health and hands!
Several years ago, Anderson Saw Company made the switch to ultrasound and they couldn’t be happier. ASC was able to eliminate toxic solutions and a ton of labor costs, resulting in a bigger bottom line.
“Our customers want the most bang for their buck. Omegasonics has certainly helped us deliver on that promise.” Ray Anderson, Owner, Anderson Saw.
A large portion of Anderson Saw’s business came from walk-ins. Before ultrasound was used to clean blades, a lot of customers were frustrated because they did not want to wait for an estimate overnight. With ultrasound, Anderson Saw was able to complete customer’s requests on the spot… literally cutting the process time in half!
If you are in the music industry, whether as a hobbyist or as a professional, you probably have plenty of experience trying to clean musical instruments. As you know, it’s a lot more fun to play an instrument than it is to clean one! I don’t want to start off this blog on the wrong “note”, but are you aware that many music shops clean instruments such as trumpets, trombones, flutes, and tubas with toxic chemicals?
With ultrasonic cleaning, tiny vacuum bubbles implode and scrub all the valves, mouthpieces, and internal passages of band instruments.
Thankfully, there is a better way to clean band instruments. Instead of using toxic cleaning chemicals, let me make the case for ultrasonic cleaning. Ultrasonic cleaners are actually much like musical instruments, and are rapidly growing in popularity with cleaning musical parts. Ultrasonic generators act like a speaker system that blast millions of tiny vacuum bubbles that implode and scrub all the valves, mouthpieces and internal passages in less time than it takes to play “Journey to a Rainbow” by Chuck Mangione. In case you’re not familiar with the famous Jazz piece, it’s about 3 minutes long.
Most pieces of a disassembled instrument can fit perfectly into an ultrasonic cleaning unit. For an experienced musical repair technician, this same cleaning process takes about 15 by manual hand scrubbing. Also, cleaning by hand does not guarantee that all the nooks and crannies within the instrument will be cleaned thoroughly.
With ultrasound you can increase your musical cleaning “tempo” and really give your audience something to cheer about because of the fast turn around time. One of our recent clients, Mike, who cleans instruments professionally, claimed that, “Since going to ultrasound, I can now charge more money because I am providing my clients with a more sophisticated level of service.”
Using ultrasonic technology to clean your instruments just “sounds” a lot better than doing it by hand, doesn’t it? See (and hear) the difference for yourself by clicking on our musical instruments page or read how ultrasonics is helping one music store in Rocklin, CA. see its profits crescendo!
Rick of Arrowhead Band Music says that he and his brass tech love the 59-gallon Music Pro Ultrasonic Cleaner. He says that it cleans his instruments much faster, and he can sleep at night not having to worry about OSHA regulators.
“These engines have to go out like they’re brand-new every time,” says owner Adam Wik. His racing team clients expect a high quality of workmanship because the demands of off-road racing pack oil and carbon deep into engine parts. His team soon gained a very good reputation in the industry. However, Adam was faced with a problem. He used a solvent recycling service that came to his shop and exchanged his multi-gallon drums on a regular basis, and combined with hot water spray tanks, his process for cleaning engines all adding up to wasted time, additional manual labor, and costly chemicals.
