Latest Cleaning Systems from Contax

Contax Ltd - UK

15 February 2008

Production automation system specialist, Contax Ltd, has announced the latest in the range of Kolb aqueous cleaning systems. The new products include the PS31 and PS09 HY from the PowerSpray® range and the AF series of AirFlow® technology products. These systems are self-contained, the cleaning and rinse fluids re-circulated passing through fine filters, which capture any, contaminates. This design avoids, loss to drain, thus reducing overall running costs.

PS31
Just launched is the PS31, a cost effective system for stencils and mis-prints. This new two-step system is based on the popular high-end PS03 specification and uses Kolb’s PowerSpray® cleaning technology. PowerSpray uses high pressure, high volume pumps that spray the cleaning fluid through special jets onto the stencils. For the PS31, this results in short cycle times of approximately 22 minutes coupled with excellent cleaning results.

PS09 HY
At the top of the PowerSpray range is the PS09, a multifunctional system for cleaning PCBs, DCBs, hybrids, misprints, PumpPrint-stencils and solder carriers. This system can handle all finecleaning and ultra-finecleaning tasks for products measuring up to 750 mm x 850 mm.

The PS09 is an all-in-one system with a multiple-process chamber that enables short cycle times. It uses a fully automated four- to seven-step process that includes: cleaning, MediumWipe®, rinsing and drying with a volume high pressure spray rotor system.

AF Range
For flux management cleaning, Contax offers the AirFlow® (AF) range of ‘plug and work’ systems that offer thorough cleaning for external aggregates, mass cleaning, solder frames, carriers and condensation traps.

All products in this range use Kolb’s AirFlow® technology which ensures that the products being cleaned are supported with compressed air whilst being submerged in the cleaning fluid. As with the PS range, scent neutral, water-based detergents are used for the cleaning process. These offer a number of advantages, being highly effective and environmentally friendly, as well as protecting the materials being cleaned. Furthermore, these highly efficient systems are completely safe and can be installed in the production area for additional convenience.

The largest system in the range, AF09, is suitable for external aggregates, cleaning containers/cyclones, tubing, condensation traps and solder carriers. It offers two process technologies (AirFlow and PulseFlow) in one system, two-stage cleaning, three-stage filtration and a skimmer filtration system. The AF08 uses the AirFlow system exclusively and is designed for mass cleaning for condensation traps and solder carriers.

The AF04 and AF03 offer economical, but high quality, maintenance cleaning for solder-frames, carriers and condensation traps. The AF04 operates in a three-chamber mode, so that the system can work in parallel through the processes of cleaning, rinsing and drying. The smaller system, AF03 is a more cost effective version, with low running and maintenance costs. Both systems offer short cycle times of only 15 to 20 minutes.


“The Kolb range has a system to suit all cleaning needs,” said Mike Rapson, Managing Director at Contax Ltd. “As production managers are aware, effective and efficient stencil cleaning is a prerequisite for high quality electronic production. The Kolb range suits all needs and budgets, and Kolb has rightly acquired a sound reputation for efficient and ecologically sound, aqueous cleaners,” he said.