How SPAX Keeps Wash Water Oil-Free with FRIESS 1U Oil Skimmers
At the end of its screw production process, SPAX hardens the finished parts. Before hardening, the screws must be degreased in a dedicated washing system. If oil is not effectively removed from the wash water, residues can impair the hardening result and lead to quality problems.
Problem
The site was using an oil-water separator from another supplier, but its oil-removal performance was inadequate. Too much oil remained in the wash water, reducing cleaning efficiency and leaving residues on the screws before hardening. The resulting quality complaints from a major automotive manufacturer created significant costs and production pressure.
On-Site Analysis
The washing system consists of a washing tank and a rinsing tank. An on-site inspection revealed a visible layer of floating oil on the surface of both tanks, which needed to be continuously removed.
The existing oil-water separation system did not provide sufficient treatment capacity for the tank size and oil load. In addition, the high particle content in the wash water meant that the equipment required maintenance and cleaning almost every week. The resulting maintenance workload frequently prevented continuous operation, further reducing the effectiveness of oil removal.
Main Issues: Insufficient oil-removal capacity, frequent maintenance and unreliable continuous removal of floating oil.
Solution: FRIESS 1U Oil Skimmers Continuously Remove Floating Oil
FRIESS installed one 1U oil skimmer on the wash tank and another on the rinse tank. The length of each oleophilic collector hose was selected to suit the dimensions of the respective tank, allowing the hose to cover most of the liquid surface and continuously collect and remove floating oil.
The 1U oil skimmer continuously removes floating oil from the tank surface, helping to keep the wash water in good condition. Even with a high particle load in the wash water, its robust and durable design ensures reliable operation while significantly reducing routine maintenance requirements.
Results
SPAX initially chose to test the 1U oil skimmers on a rental basis. Once the two units were put into operation, floating oil was continuously removed from the surfaces of the wash and rinse tanks. This allowed the screws to enter the hardening process as required, and the related customer complaints no longer occurred.
After confirming the successful results, SPAX purchased the two 1U oil skimmers and subsequently installed additional 1U units on three more washing and hardening lines. By continuously removing floating oil from the wash water, the system helped ensure consistent hardening quality and improved overall process reliability.
Summary:
Oil-free wash water helps ensure that the screws meet the required hardening specifications.
The related quality complaints from the automotive manufacturer were eliminated.
SPAX subsequently installed 1U oil skimmers on additional washing and hardening lines.
