Cleaning Weld Seams in a Sustainable and Efficient Manner

Electric and hybrid vehicles are changing the way vehicles are built in ways that go far beyond drive technology. For example, due to the weight of the battery, integral subframes now need a higher load-bearing capacity. The redesign of these axle components is also prompting many vehicle manufacturers to reconsider and reassess their production processes. One of these processes is the cleaning step to remove impurities such as silicate islands, scale, and smoke residues formed during welding; these can cause major quality issues in the cathodic dip painting process and lead to corrosion damage. The cleaning technology generally used is blasting with a solid medium, for example, corundum. To remove dust and abrasive residues from the parts prior to cathodic dip painting, another cleaning step in a separate machine is required.