Downtime is exactly what it sounds like; the time during which a machine is out of action, or unavailable for use. Setup time is essentially the downtime associated with changing a piece of equipment from making the last part of a production batch to making the first good part of the next batch. 60-70% of downtime is associated with equipment maintenance and cleaning.
Why not just increase the speed of machinery or ask people to work faster?
Think about the time it takes to process or assemble the units you produce. This time is an added value of transforming raw material into something valuable. Do you think your customers are willing to pay for the extra efforts for this? Probably not, so…
How Do You Reduce Downtime without hurting the customer?
How much of your downtime is allocated toward cleaning something? Imagine if you could cut that time in half; and that’s what dry ice blasting can do for you.
To understand how, you first need to look at how you’re cleaning your equipment now. Chances are you’re stopping production, waiting for parts to cool, taking everything apart, cleaning each piece individually, putting it all back together, and starting the machine up. Now take a second and think about what it would be like to skip all those steps. Not only is setup time being reduced, but it’s being eliminated!
This is made possible because three main factors
1. The Dry Cleaning in Dry Ice Cleaning
One of the biggest reasons dry ice blasting is such a time saver, is it eliminates the need to cover up electrical components to protect them. In fact, dry ice blasting is a preferred method for cleaning them. While people blasting with other medias need to go out of their way to cover sensitive equipment, those using a dry ice blaster don’t have to worry about it. This is because dry ice blasting is a dry process. The dry ice pellets turn into gas upon contact with the surface of your equipment, leaving no secondary mess behind.
2. No Cool Down Time
Even if you don’t have to disassemble your equipment, chances are you still have to wait for it to cool before you can clean it. Most cleaning methods can damage parts if they’re still hot. Dry ice blasting, on the other hand, can not only clean parts while they are still hot, but in some cases, it works better that way.
This is due to both the thermal effect and the sublimation of the dry ice. The sudden drop in temperature causes the surface of the contaminant to crack. When the dry ice goes from a solid to a gas (sublimation) the effect lifts the contaminant off the surface. There is no damage to the equipment because this happens so quickly.
3. Customization
Dry ice blasting is one of the most versatile cleaning methods available. While not all dry ice blasters are created equal, the best manufacturers also supply different accessories to help you adjust your cleaning experience. Different nozzles and extension pipes can make a huge difference in the cleaning success of your dry ice blasting equipment.
For more information on how dry ice blasting can reduce downtime in your industry click here.