Are You Optimizing the Cleaning of Your Large Parts for Painting and Powder Coating?

If you work with large parts, you already know that getting the proper surface preparation is one of the toughest—and most important—steps in your finishing process. Regardless of what you’re prepping, the quality of your coating starts with the quality of the surface preparation.

When cleaning isn’t consistent, problems show up: poor adhesion, poor corrosion performance, paint defects, or coatings that don’t last. And with large or complex parts, even small oversights can lead to big losses.

At Americo Chemical Products, we see this issue frequently, which is why we help large part finishing operations take control of their cleaning process without adding complexity or cost.

Why Cleaning Large Parts is so Challenging

Pressure spray wand cleaning offers advantages such as flexibility, lower upfront costs, and easy access to large or irregular parts. But it also introduces several variables that can be tough to manage on a production floor.

Part size, shape, and geometry all play a role. Tight weld seams and recessed surfaces trap oils and soils that a wand might miss. Operator distance, pressure angle, and spray duration can vary from one person to the next. Then there are the process factors: water quality, discharge requirements, and equipment maintenance. Over time, equipment performance can impact cleaning performance, even if the operator is doing everything right.

Those inconsistencies add up. When surfaces aren’t properly cleaned, that can lead to:

• Adhesion failures like peeling, poor corrosion performance, or paint defects
• Extra labour and waste from stripping, recoating, or manual cleaning
• Higher chemical and energy use from overcompensating with stronger solutions or higher heat

In other words, every minute spent chasing cleaning issues cuts into efficiency, quality, and profit.

How Americo Helps

Our team understands the challenges that come with oversized parts, and we work directly with your operators to make sure your cleaning step is as consistent and cost-effective as possible.

Here’s how:

• Custom cleaning chemistry: We formulate and recommend cleaners as well as conversion coatings designed specifically for large parts and high soil loads. They cut through oil and contamination efficiently, without driving up chemical consumption.
• Process development and optimization: We look at everything—part geometry, cleaning method, temperature control, water quality, discharge limits, spray wand equipment, and operator consistency—to design a spray wand process that fits your operation perfectly.
• On-site support and operator training: Our team works directly with your staff to fine-tune procedures, provide hands-on guidance, and ensure every operator understands how to get the best results safely and consistently.
• System reliability and cost control: Our programs optimize conversion coating performance, reduce rinse and wastewater issues, and cut unnecessary chemical and water use.

The end goal is a cleaner, more consistent finish and a lower total cost per part.