Cleaning Experts Come Together to Discuss Forming Industry Association in the U.S.

 

 

Leaders in industrial cleaning come together before theParts Cleaning Expo (PCx) at the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) to discuss forming a new association dedicated to cleaning technologies and applications. Industry experts will meet at an open round table discussion before the start of the trade show on Monday, April 24 at the Columbus Convention Center from 3 to 5 p.m.

The goal of the meeting is to discuss the feasibility and the overall need for an association focused on the cleaning industry in the U.S. This includes providing educational opportunities, professional networking and further support for the industry’s growth.

Representatives from German industrial cleaning association FiT, will present an overview of their organization discussing the association’s structure and services. FiT represents suppliers, users, consultants, scientific institutions and trade associations that understand firsthand the challenges in industrial cleaning.

Parts cleaning is more important now than ever. Cleaning processes impact not only downstream processes such as coating, heat treatment, welding, bonding and assembly, but also affects the overall quality and lifespan of the finished product.

Accordingly, costs for cleaning have risen, which makes it more difficult to stay competitive in a global market. 

"But this is only one side of the coin," says Doris Schulz, owner of German public relations company Schulz Presse Text, and longtime partner to the surface finishing and industrial cleaning industry.

"Companies also must comply to ever-tightening environmental rules, e.g. the use of solvents in parts cleaning and degreasing, federal, state or local regulations regarding air and water."

Regardless of these challenges, cleaning tends to get excluded from the core competences of manufacturing companies. To resolve challenges in parts cleaning, it is first essential to understand them. This means taking a close look at customer requirements and the production chain from start to finish. 

"This can only be handled efficiently and effectively when companies team up," Schulz says.

Working closely with trade associations, Schulz says that in Germany, for example, the rising demands have led to the foundation of the trade association for industrial parts cleaning (Fachverband Industrielle Teilereinigung – FiT) in 2005. FiT represents suppliers and users, consulting, planning and engineering offices, as well as service providers and scientific institutes active in this industry sector. It has established itself as a network for manufacturers and suppliers, R&D institutions as well as for equipment users.

"It is solution-driven to bring suppliers and users of industrial parts cleaning equipment together," Schulz says. Additionally, she adds, it supports users with various guidelines and checklists, such as the checklist for choosing a cleaning system and the guidelines for process and quality assurance.

Another major factor lies in education, training and staff qualification. FiT organizes workshops, seminars and conferences and also participates in the creation of the expert forum program "parts2clean", an annual industry exhibition in Europe that mirrors many of the educational programs offered at Parts Cleaning Expo 2017.

With the parts cleaning challenges mentioned above, the question presents itself whether the U.S. industry could also benefit from a parts cleaning association. Such an organization could promote awareness for industrial parts cleaning and support the industry’s future growth.

The round table meeting aims to open that discussion. Facilitated by Products Finishing, the meeting is open to all cleaning technology suppliers, end users of cleaning equipment, academic institutions and all whom have an interest in exploring the creation of such an association. If interested in attending, please contact Products Finishing publisher Todd Luciano, tluciano@pfonline.com. In the case that attendance is not possible, the event invites you to email opinions and topics of interest to Luciano. 

For more information on PCx and PMTS 2017, click here.