Better results. Less chemistry.™
- Careers
State-of-the-Art Technology
Our tech-enhanced cleaning transforms your process, boosts efficiency, and promotes environmental sustainability.
Proven Results
With over six generations of expertise, our team thrives on solving challenges. Your success is our success.
Resource Library
Access product bulletins, safety information, and product documents, along with more resources for additional information.
About Hubbard-Hall
Our mission is to help manufacturers tackle complex surface cleaning, finishing, and wastewater treatment problems.
Contact Our Experts
Our people. Your problem solvers. Connect with a Hubbard-Hall representative today.
Tankside
In Line Cleaning of High Volume Aluminum Parts
Most people see a cleaning problem.We see a costly rejection rate.
How can manufacturers clean high-volume aluminum parts in-line without increasing scrap?
In this cosmetic packaging application, Hubbard-Hall developed an acid cleaning process that removed oil in 45 seconds, prevented downstream contamination and saw a 5x reduction in rejects. Watch the video to see how the manufacturer changed its cleaning process.
The Company
This particular company manufactures parts for cosmetic packaging. The most important thing about these parts is aesthetics. It’s 100% about visual appearance.
The parts are all aluminum and produced in extremely high volumes. They can run millions of parts a week for a single customer. Because they manufacture so many parts continuously, any defect or process issue can quickly create a significant amount of off-quality product.
In a normal process, these stamped aluminum parts, which have a lot of lubricant on them, would be cleaned and degreased separately from the anodizing process.
They approached us looking for a way to clean these parts automatically, in-line on the anodizing lines, without having to degrease them in a separate processing step.
The Challenge
They had tried this multiple times with other cleaners, and the biggest problem they encountered, beyond simply getting the parts clean, was managing the oil.
If the oil isn’t removed and is carried into subsequent steps of the process, it can cause immediate disruptions and, in some cases, create safety issues. The oils can react with some of the downstream chemicals in the anodizing process. There were actually cases where the oil reacted and caused the tanks to erupt.
So, they needed not only to get the parts clean, but also to remove the oil from the system so there was no possibility of it reaching the downstream tanks.
Keys to Success
The biggest challenge was that we had to accomplish this in just 45 seconds.
We approached it from a product development standpoint and worked to find a new type of cleaner that would meet all of the requirements.
As a result, we accomplished three things. First, we achieved cleaner parts using an acid cleaner. Second, by removing the oils from the cleaner bath, we prevented downstream contamination and the poisoning of the bright dip tanks. Third, we reduced the scrap rate for this process by roughly five-fold.
The Results
We were able to meet all of their technical requirements while also helping improve productivity and production.
The challenge: In-line cleaning
Clean high-volume aluminum parts inline – without oil contaminating downstream tanks.
The choice: AquaEase 2289
Hubbard-Hall developed an acid cleaner that removed oils within the manufacturer’s 45-second cleaning window. This allowed the manufacturer to clean parts in-line without a separate degreasing step.
The change: 5X reduction in rejects
Better parts for your customer.
Fewer Steps. More Efficient Cleaning.
Switch to AquaEase 2289, an organic acid cleaner that clean, deoxidize and brighten in one step and reduce the stages in your process. Applications include soak, ultrasonic and spray on aluminum and copper alloys.
| Features | Benefits |
| Superior oil splitting abilities | Extends bath life, reclaim oil with BTU value |
| Forms highly soluble metal salts | Reduce scale and formulation |
| Low odor | No toxic fumes |
| Removes oxides and scales | Eliminates multi-stage cleaning operations |
| Phosphate-free | Reduces wastewater charges |
| One-step cleaner, deoxidizer, and brightener | Reduces stages, time, equipment and space needed for desired finish |
Our Cleaning Experts at your Fingertips — or Tank-Side
Take the first step toward better aluminum cleaning with our products & expertise. Schedule your cleaning consult today.