Barbara and Edward Kanegsberg

The EPA is further scrutinizing cleaning solvents trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE, tetrachloroethylene), methylene chloride (MC), n-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP), and n-propyl bromide (nPB, 1-bromopropane). We discussed EPA actions in the February issue of Clean Source.  Now, the EPA has published new documents relating to these solvents and five other chemicals and has […]

The first Product Quality Cleaning Workshops (PQCW) was at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville Texas, May 16-17. Participants included manufacturers in the areas of automotive, optics, medical, and metal finishing as well as developers of cleaning chemistries, cleaning equipment, and techniques for surface analysis. The workshop confirmed our expectation […]

A large orange cloud overshadows the little town. Ooze bubbles along the sidewalk. A gaggle of news crews and a delightful assortment of inquisitive regulators converge on the manufacturing plant.  Manufacturing and assembling product involves using the power of chemical reactivity. Fortunately, most chemical reactions do not result in a […]

Adapted and updated from: Steve Norris, Barbara Kanegsberg, and Ed Kanegsberg, “Ferris and Ultrasonics,” SPRAYTIME Magazine, 2014 Remember the classic ‘80’s movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”? Ferris challenged authority. If you want to clean a complicated part or component, you can’t just toss it in the ultrasonic tank using the […]

Most manufactured objects require chemicals during build and assembly processes. In nearly all instances, workers handle chemicals. As critical cleaning consultants, we frequently observe chemical use during cleaning operations. We see a wide range of practices when it comes to handling chemicals  – some of those practices are problematic. No […]

Education is essential for your business. Training workers to follow instructions for the cleaning process is not enough. Employees from technicians to supervisors to middle and upper management all need to be educated about critical cleaning.  As far as we know, critical cleaning is not taught at the university level.  […]

There is a positive  “sea change” of growing optimism in the product surface finishing industry. At the recent SUR/FIN conference, rather than the attitude “alas, there’s a whale sitting on me, I’m stuck under water, what can I do?” we heard, “oh!, there’s a whale sitting on me, so I’m […]