The Skipton-based industrial finishing equipment manufacturer Guyson International (www.guyson.co.uk) has recently installed a Kerry Microsolve 350 mono-solvent cleaning system at the Staffordshire site of Mors Smitt, a world leader in relay technology for the rail industry.

The company undertook extensive sample evaluation at Guyson’s test and development centre; this included the processing of various contact types — with and without ultrasonics — to determine the optimum process, machine type and solvent needed.

The Kerry Microsolve 350 machine selected was specified with a specially designed handling system; this accommodates existing component trays that are used for other processes throughout Mors Smitt’s factory.

The system has three process stages comprising: ultrasonic cleaning, vapour rinsing and freeboard drying. The first stage sees complete immersion of the components in the solvent, while the second allows the solvent to ‘boil efficiently’ while minimising solvent emissions; the resulting vapour rinses the components, which are then dried in the freeboard zone.

The machine is also equipped with an Autotrans SA (single axis) lift, which ensures consistent, repeatable delivery and extraction of the components into and out of the cleaning solution, while also controlling the speed of basket movement through the vapour zone, thus reducing solvent drag-out caused by disturbance of the vapour blanket.