Below is an abbreviated listing of the major vapor degreaser manufacturers. They are all good companies and make fine products. Here's our take on "who's who":
Branson has a large market share in the vapor degreaser industry, and they also manufacture aqueous cleaning systems. They offer standard designs as well as a low-emission machine using vacuum technology. Branson has a complete applications
laboratory in which they have samples of all the major chemistries and their
cleaning machines. Their brand includes some of the industry's most popular,
well-featured machines.
Contacts: Nick Kaplanis, VP Sales, 203-796-0387 or Tech Support, Tel: 203-796-2298 On the web at www.BransonCleaning.com
Forward/Crest Ultrasonics has a complete line of vapor degreasers and aqueous systems and, because they make such big systems, seems to be favored by the very biggest accounts. Their forte are low-emission machines equipped with super-heat, which makes them very appealing environmentally. They also have degreasers rated for use
with flammable solvents. They have recently introduced a small- to medium-sized degreaser to better compete with Branson. They have a complete applications lab at their headquarters.
In 1999 the two companies merged, which has given them a global presence, although their strategy seems to be to market the two brands independently of each other. They are the leading supplier of contained vapor degreasers for clean rooms and semiconductor applications in SE Asia and welcome the "one-of-a-kind" engineered application. In addition to their domestic manufacturing capabilities, they also have manufacturing capabilities in Malaysia which helps keep costs down.
Contacts: Wayne Mouser, VP of Sales, 800-992-7378 and Russell Manchester, lab manager; Tel: 761-557-2658 On the web at www.forwardtech.com and/or www.crest-ultrasonics.com
Ultra-Kool is another small but
reputable player with excellent technology. They assembly their own designs and
do most of their work with custom "one-off" configurations, normally on the
smaller sizes of vapor degreasers.
They offer a better value due to
their superior cold trap technology, and the fact they deliver all the required
cooling with one compressor instead of the more normal two. They are very
competent with Bromothane™ as well as all the other solvents, including the older materials such as methylene chloride, perc, trike and so on.
Photo, left: Tom Tattersal of MicroCare checks out a new benchtop vapor degreaser from UKI at the 2004 CleanTech Show in Chicago.
Contacts: Al Hartman, Sales Manager, Tel: (610) 367-2019, Fax: (610) 367-8396 and on the web at www.ultra-kool.com
Trek is expert in the aqueous, semi-aqueous and co-solvent choices, but they got into the vapor degreaser game after buying Corpaine in the late 1990s. They have redesigned the Corpaine unit and offer systems that are medium to large and generally fully enclosed (low emission). They are very capable from the very smallest applications to the largest customers who spec in a cleaning system and purchase multiple units for global applications, and they cover the west coast of the U.S. better than anyone.
Contacts: Sales: 626-815-5555 Fax: On the Web at: www.TrekIndustries.com
Thermal markets vapor degreasers under the venerable Baron-Blakeslee brand name, which they bought from Allied Signal several years ago. They offer models similar to Branson but slightly larger than those which Branson offers. While they are most famous for their "off-the-shelf" systems they do produce some custom-engineered systems.
Contacts: Pam Gormley, Sales, Tel: 310-328-6600 x3040; Fax: 310-320-2692 Email: gormleyp@thermalequipment.com
Farr bought the Detrex cleaning equipment company in January 2002. They have a complete line of aqueous cleaners and solvent vapor degreasers. At one time, Detrex was the leading engineering and in-line vapor degreaser company in the world and they are well-positioned to return to that position of pre-eminence in the next few years. They have a complete technical center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Contacts: Jim McChesney, tel: 270-782-2411 On the web at www.farrmfg.com
Ultronics is a small but proven manufacturer of vapor degreasers, located in rural Pennsylvania. They utilize a proprietary "cold trap" technology to lower emissions. Their equipment is on the small to medium size, and is generally very cost-effective. While they make their own machines -- both custom and off-the-shelf -- they also are well-known for their huge inventory of spare Baron-Blakeslee equipment and parts. They also have creative leasing options for equipment.
Contacts: Carl Wolf, Tel: 800-553-7881 On the web at www.ultronix.com
Unique specializes in lab-scale vapor degreasers. They manufacture small, high quality systems which feature very clever designs for the smallest applications.
Their products are often found in clean room environments, laboratories and in the medical industry. The normal capacity here is 2-4 gallons.
Contacts: Art Gillman, Sales Manager, Tel: 818-890-1133 Fax: 818-897-3878 On the web at: www.uniqueequip.com
Tiyoda is one of the leading providers of low-emission machines in California, as their machines run with a very low vacuum for reduced emissions. While these machines are expensive, they are clearly held in high regard by the South Coast Air Quality Board in Southern California.
Contacts: Mickey Ohkubo, Tel: 310-539-5471 On the web at: www.TIYODA.Com
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MicroCare Marketing Services A Division of MicroCare Corp. 595 John Downey Drive, New Britain CT 06051 USA Tel: 860-827-0626 Fax: 860-827-8105 In North America, dial: 800-638-0125 Email: TechSupport@Bromothane.com |
Updated: Feb. 12, 2006
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