Solvent cleaning: perfectly degreased, dry parts with zero effluents

Solvacs · HEMO technology (Germany), represented in Mexico by WashTech

Solvacs machines clean with solvent in a closed vacuum chamber: immersion, solvent vapor and vacuum drying in a single automatic cycle. The solvent is distilled and recycled inside the machine.

80–100 mbarworking pressure: no fire risk

> 12 monthssolvent life, thanks to continuous distillation

0wastewater, and no operator contact with the solvent

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Solvacs vacuum solvent cleaning line, HEMO technology

Solvent, water or hybrid? It depends on the contaminant

The rule of cleaning chemistry is simple: like dissolves like. Organic contaminants are removed with solvent; inorganic ones with water.

Organic contaminants

Cutting and stamping oils, greases, waxes, protective oils.

Non-polar, not water-soluble → solvent (hydrocarbons or modified alcohols)

Inorganic contaminants

Emulsions, salts, coolant residues, fingerprints, abrasion particles.

Polar, water-soluble → aqueous cleaning

Solvent

Water + detergent

Solvacs HYBRID: solvent and water in the same chamber

How does it work? The Solvacs cycle step by step

Everything happens in a sealed chamber. The vacuum makes it safe to heat the solvent above its flash point, and dries the parts completely.

Loading and closingThe basket with the parts enters the chamber and the door closes hermetically.
VacuumAir is evacuated from the chamber down to working pressure (80–100 mbar with hydrocarbons or modified alcohols). Without oxygen, there is no fire risk.
Immersion and circulationThe chamber is flooded with hot solvent from the tank. Circulation and, optionally, ultrasound for particulate cleanliness.
Draining with filtrationThe solvent returns to the tank through a chip filter and a fine filter. Rinses from additional tanks can follow.
Vapor degreasingPure solvent vapor from the distiller condenses on the part and carries away the last film of oil.
Vacuum dryingDeep vacuum evaporates the solvent, even from blind holes. Parts come out dry, odorless and residue-free.
Venting and unloadingThe chamber returns to atmospheric pressure and clean, dry parts are unloaded, ready for the next process.

Click a step to see it in the diagram.

In parallel: continuous distillation. The solvent evaporates in the distiller, the oil stays at the bottom and is drained automatically, and the condensed solvent returns clean to the tank. That is why the solvent lasts more than 12 months.

Safe for the operator, clean for the environment

Closed loop

The solvent always circulates in a closed loop inside an enclosed machine: the operator never comes into contact with it, not even during service.

Full vacuum

No fire risk: the vacuum is monitored with double safety, by mechanical and digital sensors, with an automatic alarm in case of failure. Complete drying: no solvent leaves the machine with the parts.

Built-in recovery

Continuous distillation and solvent recovery from the exhaust air: near-zero emissions in the workshop and very little waste.

Versatile processes

Vapor for fast degreasing, ultrasound for technical cleanliness, hybrid process for spot-free surfaces, and corrosion protection.

Solvent, aqueous or hybrid: comparison

	Vacuum solvent	Aqueous cleaning	Solvacs hybrid
Oils, greases, waxes	Excellent	Good, with detergent and temperature	Excellent
Salts, emulsions, fingerprints	Limited	Excellent	Excellent
Drying	Complete, under vacuum	Hot air or vacuum, risk of spots	Complete under vacuum, spot-free
Complex geometries	Excellent (vacuum reaches everywhere)	Depends on geometry	Excellent
Effluents	None: solvent is recycled	Wastewater to treat	Rinse baths regenerated internally
Typical applications	Machining, stamping, tubes, aerospace	Parts with emulsions and mixed soils	Before PVD/DLC, heat treatment, technical cleanliness

Proven applications

Heat treatment

Fineblanked steel parts with oil and coolant residues. Hybrid hydrocarbon + water process: spot-free surfaces, avoiding soft spots after hardening.

HybridSpot-free

Before PVD coating

Faucets with emulsions and brass chips. Ultrasonic cleaning with solvent and water, vapor and vacuum drying: surfaces free of oil, salts and particles.

HybridUltrasound

Stainless steel tubes

Tubes up to 30 m long with cutting oil. Immersion with ultrasound, vapor and drying: less than 20 mg/m² of residual oil.

Hydrocarbon

Aerospace

Honeycomb structures up to 4 × 1.5 × 1.5 m, ready for bonding: solvent spraying, vapor and vacuum drying.

Modified alcohol

Stamping and sheet metal

Sheet metal parts with stamping oil and abrasives, in 1.25 m boxes. Perchloroethylene replaced by modified alcohol, with optional corrosion protection.

PERC replacement

Precision machining

Machined parts with blind holes and threads: vacuum and ultrasound reach every cavity, and vacuum drying prevents any residue.

Technical cleanliness

A range for every production volume

Compact

Batches from 480 × 320 × 200 mm to 600 × 400 × 300 mm, up to 10 batches per hour depending on the process. For workshops and small-part production.

Modular

Configurable machines with additional tanks, ultrasound, hybrid process and automatic conveyor loading.

High volume

Plants for heavy loads and long parts: pallets over 1 m, tubes and structures several meters long.

Local service in Mexico

WashTech technicians performing specialized maintenance on HEMO vacuum degreasing machines in Mexico

German technology, support from Querétaro

A solvent machine performs only as well as it is maintained. WashTech supports its customers throughout the life of the equipment, with a technical team in Mexico that knows HEMO technology.

Cleaning trials with your own parts before you invest
On-site installation, commissioning and operator training
Preventive and corrective maintenance: vacuum, distillation, filtration
Spare parts and consumables
Maintenance of installed HEMO, NGCT, SAMT and other-brand equipment

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Frequently asked questions

When should I choose solvent instead of water and detergent?

When the contamination is organic and heavy (oils, greases, waxes, machining fluids), when the part cannot tolerate water, or when extreme, repeatable cleanliness is required.

Is it safe to work with solvents?

Yes. The process takes place in a closed chamber under vacuum, which eliminates any fire risk. In addition, most cleaning solvents used in metalworking (modified alcohols and hydrocarbons) are not toxic.

Does it generate waste or effluents?

There is no wastewater: the solvent is continuously distilled and recycled inside the machine, so cleaning is always done with pure product.

Do parts come out dry?

Yes. Vacuum drying evaporates the solvent completely, even in very complex geometries.

What is a hybrid cleaning machine?

It combines solvent (high degreasing efficiency) with aqueous cleaning (removal of salts, oxides and combustion residues). Solvacs is available in a hybrid version to reach extreme cleanliness levels.

Do you service existing solvent cleaning equipment?

Yes. WashTech maintains solvent cleaning equipment from HEMO, NGCT, SAMT and other brands, with preventive contracts and corrective service throughout Mexico. See our maintenance service.