German laser cleaning system offers an environmentally friendly solution

CIProcess has become the exclusive distributor in the UK of laser cleaning systems produced by Clean Laser Systems of Aachen, Germany.

Developed over the past 10 years, the systems combine power and versatility with the lowest operating cost of all industrial cleaning methods, the company claims. They offer a safe cleaning method and are environmentally friendly, using no water or chemicals and producing no effluent. Primarily used for industrial cleaning and surface treatment, renovation and paint removal applications, they can also remove contaminants, production residue and coatings without damaging the substrate. Metallic and reflective surfaces are ideal, although other substrates can be addressed. Operating costs are reduced through downtime minimisation, low running costs and life span extension, with paybacks of less than a year often achieved. Easy to automate and integrate into existing manufacturing lines, they can be used on-line and in-place without damaging equipment or requiring machine dismantling. The Nd:YAG pulsed, solid-state lasers direct a high precision programmable scanning beam of up to 0.5mm diameter. The cleaning surface reflects laser energy and is minimally affected, but contaminants on the surface absorb the laser energy and are quickly vaporised, with any fumes or particulates removed by an in-built filter. The cleaning stops when the contaminant is consumed, meaning that there is minimal heat build-up and that the microscopic roughening and cracking of metal surfaces, which can be present when using traditional cleaning methods, is avoided. The systems are currently in use in the automobile, aerospace, pharmaceutical, food, electronics, and restoration industries. They are available in 120W and 500W, portable or stationary versions.