Resources & Associations for Machining & Metal Fabrication Facilities
MnTAP has developed the following resources and included a list of associations to help your facility learn more about, evaluate, and implement pollution prevention and energy efficiency strategies.
Resources
Cleaning Processes and Procedures
- Fact Sheet: Aqueous Parts Washers for Small Operations (2009). Aqueous parts washers use water-based chemistries and can be less hazardous to operate than petroleum solvent parts washers.
- Reference List: Aqueous Cleaning Equipment Manufacturers (2004). Aqueous cleaning equipment suppliers offer a wide range of cleaning equipment and related accessories.
- Fact Sheet Series: Get It Plated Right. This fact sheet series helps you learn more about making sure your parts are ready for plating or other coatings.
- Intern Summary: Marathon Ashland Petroleum to Save $39,000 through Cleaning Changes (1998). The company eliminated almost all chlorinated aerosol spray use, purchased parts washers with fine filtration to replace four rental washers, and found alternatives to a terpene-based, large surface spray cleaner.
- Intern Summary: American Converters Eliminates Methylene Chloride Based Adhesives (1997). The facility was able to reduce their regulatory burden by making the switch.
- Intern Summary: Aqueous Alternatives for Cleaning Measurement Instrumentation (1993). Rosemount Aerospace wanted to find alternative cleaning systems to TCA and CFC-113 degreasing due to the 1990 Clean Air Act.
Solvent Recovery and Recycling
- Case Study: Petroleum Solvents and Production Changes Replace Chlorinated Cleaning Solvents (2007). To eliminate 1,1,1-trichloroethane and CFC-113, Windings, Inc. took steps to eliminated 1,1,1-trichloroethane and CFC-113. The process changes the company made apply to other chlorinated solvents like trichloroethylene (TCE), methylene chloride and perchloroethylene (perc).
- Fact Sheet: Selecting a Still for On-site Solvent Recycling (2011). Become better prepared to select the right still for your on-site solvent recycling.
- Reference List: Solvent Recycling Equipment (2005). Many solvents can be reprocessed and recycled for reuse. Distillation is the most common method, but filtration can also be used.
Vapor Degreasing
- Reference List: Alternative Solvent Degreasers (2008). This list provides information about degreasing and cleaning solvents that are alternatives to halogenated solvents.
- Case Study: Metal Stamping Company Saves $26,000 by Eliminating Vapor Degreasing (2007). Dayton Rogers Manufacturing Company used a strategic deburring process to replace trichlorethane vapor degreasing.
- Fact Sheet: Reducing Solvent Emissions from Vapor Degreasers (2011). Strategies for reducing solvent emissions include drag-out, drafts, diffusion, and sprays.
Coolant Maintenance
- Fact Sheet: Coolant Maintenance for Machining Operations (2004). This fact sheet can help guide you in your efforts to develop a coolant maintenance program.
- Reference List: Coolant Maintenance Equipment and Supplies (2004). Appropriate coolant maintenance programs help keep operations efficient and productive.
- Source Article: Spotlight on Technology – The PuriGator (pg5). One tramp oil removal system, the PuriGator offered by Solvent Systems International, uses a weir skimmer to vacuum the surface of the metal working fluid tank and remove free oils and other light fluids.
- Reference List: Centrifuge Equipment and Services (2011). Centrifuges can be used for liquid-solid separation and to separate two immiscible liquids of different densities or molecular weights.
Water Conservation
- Fact Sheet: Non-Contact Cooling Water (2007). There may be opportunities to reduce water use in your facility by reusing water for non-contact cooling.
- Intern Summary: Recycled Water Cools Welds, Saves Money at Johnson Screens (2011). The company hosed a MnTAP intern to research water and energy conservation opportunities and improve the water recycling system.
- Intern Summary: McLean Thermal Reduces Water Use, Avoids SAC (2007). McLean Thermal worked with a MnTAP intern to determine the best way to avoid those charges and reduce water and chemical use.
- Intern Summary: Water Conservation Opportunities at a Printed Circuit Board Manufacturer (1994). An intern at Advanced Circuits evaluated rinsewater flow and made suggestions to save water and money.
Energy Efficiency
- Source Article: Green team reduces waste, water, and energy (pg2). The green team at Graco evaluated opportunities for reducing waste and energy use.
- Source Article: Energy efficiency opportunities are available for food processing and metal fabrication facilities (pg4). Highlights energy efficiency opportunities for metal fabrication facilities.
Associations
At some point, you may need more information or a second opinion on a situation. Take advantage of connecting with others in the machining and metal fabrication industry through associations and training opportunities.
Finishing.com: Members of the finishing industry can go here for answers about anodizing, plating, finishing, powder coating and surface finishing problems.
National Association of Metal Finishers: NAMF represents custom and job shop surface finishers and suppliers. It is comprised of management executives in the surface finishing industry.
Society of Manufacturing Engineers: SME is an international professional society dedicated to serving its members and the manufacturing community through the advancement of professionalism, knowledge, and learning.