In the manufacturing of medical devices and orthopaedic implants, Pre-cleaning is the first and one of the most important stages in the parts cleaning process. Before any coating, inspection, sterilization, or packaging is done, all parts must go through this essential step.

If contaminants like oil, grease, burrs or metal shavings are not removed at this stage, they can negatively affect the quality of further processes — such as coating durability, adhesion, sterilization efficiency, and even patient safety.

At Ecoclean India (https://ecoclean-india.com/), we understand the unique challenges faced by MedTech manufacturers. Our comprehensive range of industrial parts cleaning solutions is specifically designed to meet the stringent cleanliness standards of the industry. This blog post will delve into the key considerations for selecting the ideal pre-cleaning machine, highlighting the technologies and factors that will ensure optimal results for your specific MedTech applications.

Purpose of Pre-Cleaning

Before diving into machine selection, it’s essential to understand why pre-cleaning holds such significance in the MedTech landscape. Manufacturing processes like shaping, machining (turning, milling, drilling), forging, and casting inevitably leave behind various contaminants.

By doing this, we prepare the part for safe and effective processing in the next stages of production.

 Where Does Pre-Cleaning Fit in the Manufacturing Process?

Most medical parts like implants and instruments go through shaping and machining as their first manufacturing step. This includes:

  • Forging / Casting
  • Machining operations such as turning, milling, or drilling etc.

These operations typically leave the part with:

  • Oily residues: Lubricants and processing aids used during manufacturing
  • Metal burrs and chips: Metallic debris generated during machining
  • Machining residues: Fine particles and remnants from cutting and shaping processes

To make sure these contaminants do not affect later processes, pre-cleaning is performed immediately after machining.

Cleaning Methods Used in Pre-Cleaning

Depending on the type of contamination and the geometry of the part, different cleaning methods can be used, either individually or in combination:

  • Aqueous or solvent-based cleaning
  • Spray cleaning
  • Ultrasonic cleaning (for sticky contamination)
  • Immersion with vertical or rotary agitation
  • DI water rinsing (with controlled water quality)
  • Hot air or vacuum drying

These methods ensure that even micro-contaminants are removed effectively before the part moves to the next production stage.

Key Considerations When Choosing Right Machine

The selection of the machine depends on:

  •         Type of Contamination: Define particulate, burrs, oil, or machining residues to determine suitable cleaning technologies.
  •         Material Compatibility: Ensure cleaning media and processes are chemically compatible with base materials to prevent damage or corrosion.
  •         Component Geometry and Size: Consider dimensional envelope and geometric complexity to select appropriate chamber size and handling mechanisms, and the effectiveness of different cleaning methods.
  •         Throughput Requirement: Align production volume requirement with machine’s capacity and cycle.
  •         Downstream Process: Consider the subsequent manufacturing process to effectively prepare the components for intermediate or final cleaning, or packaging.

Recommended Machines for Pre-Cleaning

At Ecoclean, we provide both solvent-based, aqueous-based and ultrasonic cleaning machines for pre-cleaning, depending on the nature and level of contamination:

Solvent-Based Machines:

  • Universal 81C: A Highly effective solvent cleaning system allows safe and economical use of solvents for removing oils, greases, emulsions, and swarf between or after manufacturing processes.
  • Minio 85C: A space-efficient solvent-based degreasing machine, the Minio 85C is designed for high-precision pre-cleaning in MedTech with limited footprint requirements. It offers immersion processes, vapor degreasing, and vacuum drying options.
  • Minio 75C/P: The compact solution for the customised solvent part cleaning – for the use of gross and fine cleaning. Both small companies, with low production capacities, and large companies, with decentralized cleaning stations benefit from the sophisticated process technology.

These machines are ideal for removing oils, greases, and machining fluids from high-precision parts with complex geometries.

Aqueous-Based Machines:

  • Universal 81W: The Universal 81W is a versatile machine, effectively removes oil and emulsion from mass-produced items and is also well-suited for the precision cleaning of assembly parts.
  • EcoCmini: This is a compact, powerful cleaning system that can be used for a very wide range of Industrial parts cleaning applications. The machine gives optimum cleaning performance through the multi-stage cleaning and drying process.
  • UCMCombiLine: The UCMCombiLine is a modular, ultrasonic cleaning system for low throughput with manual workstations for cleaning, drying and rinsing.

These machines are suited for parts where particles, burrs, and light organic residues are present.

Need Help Choosing the Right Pre-Cleaning Solution?

At Ecoclean, we combine our cleaning expertise with an in-depth understanding of medical manufacturing needs. Whether you deal with implants or surgical tools, we’ll help you choose the most suitable machine based on your part geometry, contamination level, and throughput needs.

By partnering with Ecoclean, you gain access to:

  •         Cutting-edge cleaning technologies: Both solvent-based and aqueous solutions designed for MedTech precision
  •         Expert consultation and support: Our team will guide you through the selection process and provide ongoing support
  •         Customized solutions: We can tailor our machines and processes to meet your unique needs
  •         Commitment to quality and compliance: Our solutions are designed to help you meet the stringent cleanliness standards of the MedTech industry

Conclusion

Pre-cleaning may be the first step in the cleaning process, but it plays a critical role in ensuring the quality and performance of medical devices. By removing machining residues early, we reduce the risk of contamination in the later stages and help maintain high standards for product safety, functionality, and compliance. Contact Ecoclean today to discuss your specific pre-cleaning needs and discover the ideal machine for your MedTech manufacturing operations.

In our next blog, we will cover Intermediate Cleaning — what it involves and why it matters for passivation and coating processes. Until then, if you want to know more about our machines feel free to connect with us at info.india@ecoclean-group.net or call +91 9028261666