The company’s SUVOS BioCleanse UV-C module is designed to reduce costs associated with metalworking fluid (MWF) management while improving worker safety and environmental sustainability.
The UV-C LED module is designed to improve the quality of cutting and cooling oils without the introduction of harmful chemicals, significantly curtailing maintenance, downtime, labor and disposal expenses—even in smaller shops.
Metalworking fluids are necessary in machining operations but often have limited lifespans due to contamination from bacteria and other biological organisms. Regular maintenance typically requires expensive downtime, necessitating fluid replacement and cleaning, which can adversely affect worker safety and profitability.
Biological pollutants in MWF can lead to health issues such as secondary dermatitis, sepsis and long-term chronic diseases linked to exposure to harmful bacteria and mold spores. The company reports that this module addresses these challenges by utilizing UV-C light, which effectively deactivates or eliminates biological contaminants and reduces odors from chemical byproducts—significantly extending the lifespan of MWF.
READ MORE: PACK EXPO International 2024: Sustainability Becomes a Core Engineering Focus
In a centralized treatment system, the module prolongs the life of glass-cutting coolant from 3 weeks to 6 months, according to Tony Gallien, founder and CEO of T&K Machine, who says, “Since implementing, I’ve seen a significant increase in productivity and significant savings of about $2,000 per (CNC) machine per year.”
The UV-C technology disrupts the DNA and RNA of harmful organisms, which helps maintain MWF in a cleaner state for longer periods. The result is not only a reduction in biological hazards but also the preservation of anti-corrosion properties, necessary for effective machining operations.
