Drum Washing Machine Technology And Labor-Saving Capabilities

Drum washing machines are dedicated equipment units that wash, sanitize, and dry industrial containers. They have a number of capabilities that automate the cleaning process and greatly improve the efficiency, speed, and uniformity of the cleaning process.

As one form of industrial cleaning equipment, they solve a series of problems facing manufacturers, processors, transporters, and service providers that are seeking an easy means of labor reduction, more streamlined operations, and improved facility safety.

They are specifically designed to wash industrial containers made from a variety of materials, including drums, IBCs, IBC totes, vats, barrels, 55-gallon buckets, and more. Drum washing machinery can be a significant asset for many companies that otherwise rely on manual cleaning, container recycling, or frequent disposal of small, medium, and high-volume containers.

This cleaning technology poses many benefits for manufacturers, processors, transporters, and other companies that use, mix, store, or transport vessels containing high-pigment, viscous, or residue-leaving liquids and small particle solids.

Drum washing machines complete automated, highly thorough cleaning through a series of capabilities, which are designed to isolate as much of the washing process as possible. These capabilities can be varied based on the specifics of the container, the residual particles and contaminants that must be cleaned, as well as other factors affected by individual operational practices and facility needs.

In general, drum washing machines will use any combination of pressurized and high-temperature cleaning liquids, solvents and other chemical-based passive cleaning solutions, and mechanical brushes and scrubbing tools. Through various stages of the cleaning cycle, these substances and tools will wash the interior and exterior of a vat, barrel, bucket, or other containers in a very quick and comprehensive manner.

Drum washing machines account for all vessel dimensions in addition to the nature of stuck-on residue and residual contaminants. They work with large, open mouth containers and well as those with narrower openings, spouts, built-in handles, and more.

This machinery facilitates the assurance of high-integrity, full disinfected workspaces and surfaces. Once the cleaning cycle is complete, drying processes can be run and the container will be restored to a uniformly sanitary, like-new level of cleanliness.

This machinery is essentially hands-off and completely contained. A computer-controlled system makes the process easy to run and oversee for one or a small team of operators, depending on the pace and volume of individual processes.

In addition to saving labor, the chamber-isolated cleaning cycles will further personnel and facility safety measures. Unlike open-air and manual cleaning processes, drum washing machines ensure that surrounding equipment, products, and work stations will not be subject to chemical vapor or spray, elevated temperatures, or exposure to residue and contaminants. This highly-contained and controllable setup also keeps airborne particles, like lint and dust, isolated from containers during the cleaning cycle.

Since cleaning liquids and solvents are applied mechanically, through a computer-controlled wash cycle, the use of resources is minimal and the washing process itself is more consistent. In addition to reduced resource use, the consistency of each wash cycle makes demands on electricity, water, detergents, solvents, and tools more predictable. This is advantageous for a number of reasons, including regulatory compliance, more environmentally-friendly operations, and more predictable budgeting.

Drum washing machines can also be paired with resource recovery equipment, such as grey-water filtration and other wastewater treatments, as well as solvent recycling systems that help maximize resource use and waste reduction.

Industries that stand to gain the greatest benefit from machinery-based drum washing capabilities include painters, printers, dyers, and other producers that work with liquid paint, inks, finishes, resins, and powdered pigments. Drum washing helps to remove all residue from industrial mixing vats, storage buckets, and dispensary containers. The result is better clarity, consistency, and integrity.

Drum washing can also streamline job change-outs, which in turn contributes to faster turnover, increased output, and more job fulfillment.

These benefits also apply to manufacturers, processors, and transporters that serve the food and beverage industry, the pharmaceutic industry, the cosmetic industry, and others. In such sectors, drum washing can greatly improve product safety and purity measures, which are essential for such producers.

Through the integration of drum washing equipment, many manufacturers and producers have reduced or eliminated their reliance on third-party cleaning, disposal, recycling, and hazardous waste handling and collection services.

Instead of relying on such services, as well as wasteful extras like single-used containers and plastic liners, many companies will now reuse vessels that have been quickly and thoroughly washed to a pristine level of clean, and one that would not be easy to achieve through manually-driven, labor-intensive cleaning processes.

While the speed of drum washing cleaning cycles will vary based on the individual unit and the specifics of the container being washers, the overall process can be completed in as little as several minutes. The process can be further streamlined with the addition of automated loading and unloading belts that carry soiled and cleaned containers to and from the washing chamber, respectively.

Facility requirements for automated drum washing integration will vary according to the capabilities of the individual drum washing unit, as well as any add-ons or expansions. In general, water line and electrical access is sufficient. Special draining and wastewater treatment connections can be integrated as needed.

Most drum washing machines are quite compact, requiring minimal facility floor space. Individual units themselves can accommodate containers ranging from small to large, with capacity capabilities that fit containers exceeding 275 gallons.

Integrating a drum washing machine into a facility provides immediate time, resource, and labor-saving results that translate to high yield savings in the long term. To ensure the greatest return, careful consideration should be given to current facility, production, and operational needs, as well as more immediate plans for growth.

Seeking the aid of an industrial cleaning equipment manufacturer or authorized distributor can make a substantial difference in the speed and success of the drum washing machine selection process. There are many factors that must be addressed when making such an investment, which can be helped through professional expertise.