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Low volumes support batches; high volumes favor inline.
Processes in the precision cleaning industries are driven by customer requirements and economical efficiency. Published studies have concluded that overall process cost, with all its individual contributors, is essential in calculating the latter. Cleanliness requirements, on the other hand, depend largely on the cleaning agent technology and equipment employed. And it is here where industry opinions differ, especially when one is deciding whether to purchase conveyorized inline or batch cleaning equipment. OEMs will showcase benefits and disadvantages of both process technologies in an attempt to provide a sound platform to facilitate decision-making. (It is worth mentioning that during the past few years, significant improvements have been made to both technologies.)
To effectively analyze and compare different cleaning processes, the user has to take into account all the elements of pure cost associated with cleaning and rinsing agents, including associated costs for disposal, electricity, compatibility, labor and equipment maintenance. Earlier studies suggest costs per cleaned board range from $0.20 to more than $1, depending on the situation (Figure 1). The determinant, then, will be the number of boards used. In...