Sustainably prepared Robots are changing the world of component cleaning and pretreatment

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MTM Meißner Technik Müllenbach GmbH

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The upheavals in mobility necessitate rethinking component cleaning as well. A company is therefore taking the following approach ...

Machinery manufacturers around the production of internal combustion engines are facing major changes as they confront the phase-out of combustion engines. As a result, hardly any new production lines are being planned in this area. And the few projects that still exist are fiercely contested. This is especially evident in parts cleaning. The necessary equipment for this has been and remains an integral part of fast-paced production lines. Whereas cylinder heads, for example, used to be on the development plan, the focus is now shifting towards sustainable mobility. Existing concepts can certainly be used, adapted, and further developed. Market opportunities arise from the ramp-up of the hydrogen economy and electromobility. In particular, the electrode surfaces of electrolyzers for hydrogen production require ultra-clean surfaces. Here, cleaning technology can find new expression. In the realm of electromobility, battery trays made of aluminum are being used extensively. Battery trays are essentially rectangular parts with rather bulky dimensions. Forming and machining processes are required for manufacturing, during which processing fluids and metal residues are produced.

Aluminum parts must be pretreated

However, Meißner Technik Müllenbach GmbH from Marienheide near Cologne (Germany) is tackling this challenge. The family-owned company has intensively engaged in patented plant technology related to internal combustion engines in the field of parts cleaning. The transformation now allows the experts to further develop. Now, plants are being developed and built for the sustainable economy. Especially in electromobility, lightweight and stable aluminum components are trending. This makes them particularly interesting for vehicle construction to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle. Aluminum parts are often bonded and should therefore be coated with titanium oxide. Aluminum is a relatively base metal that quickly forms an oxide layer in the air. This layer is responsible for the appearance of the surface. In acids and bases, however, this oxide layer dissolves, revealing the bare metal. The oxide layer, however, interferes with bonding. Therefore, pretreatment is necessary, where the oxide is removed and the surface is coated with titanium oxide.