The Science Lab
Santa’s Workshop: What if Santa Cleans Metal Toys with KYZEN Chemistries?
For much of the year, KYZEN cleaning chemistries are utilized on metal substrates in a variety of metal parts cleaning applications. But when the weather turns cold as the holidays approach, most would be surprised to find that KYZEN chemistries can also be applied during the production of toys and their parts produced by Santa’s elves in the workshop at the North Pole.
Cleaning and Protecting Toys from the Elements:
Many toys are designed for outside play and once some toys are unwrapped, they remain outside and subject to the elements. Not every environment is North Pole cold, but the environment can have an adverse effect on the life of toys.
With this in mind, Santa’s elves utilize KYZEN products like METALNOX M6314CP to both clean the metal substrates of toy trucks and little red wagons while protecting them from corrosion. M6314CP is specifically designed to prevent flash rusting of ferrous metals while removing oil, grease, emulsions and lubricants from the aluminum, stainless steel, chrome and magnesium substrates of metal toys before the elves do the final finishing or paint them in bright colors.
Cleaning Recycled Toys:
In the spirit of environmental responsibility and outright resourcefulness, no toy goes to waste once its time with a child ends. Many lost or discarded toys are returned to the North Pole for recycling and repurposing. Because of the strength of their materials, many such toys are metal and require a bit of TLC and remanufacturing clean-up before elves load them for redistribution on Christmas Eve.
Whether it’s a toy rocket, xylophone, or metal tinker toy, Santa’s elves utilize chemistries like METALNOX M6357 for heavy-duty cleaning on remanufactured parts. Compatible with steel and aluminum parts, from rotor blades on a toy helicopter, road grime on a well-loved bicycle, or the aluminum outer body of a wind-up toy dinosaur, M6357 removes heavy oils and burned-on carbon in spray and immersion processes.
Solving the Problem of Cleaning Complex Toys with Solvents:
While erector sets and slinkies can be classified as two of the original STEM toys, their long history in the world of toys doesn’t make them easy to clean. To ensure the cleanliness of these complex playthings for the engineers and physicists of tomorrow, Santa’s elves rely upon a vacuum degreasing cleaning process.
METALNOX M6386 is the North Pole’s modified alcohol solvent cleaner of choice for cleaning non-polar and polar oils and coolants from the aluminum and steel that make up erector sets and slinkies, not to mention other metals as well. M6386 dries completely without leaving residues, making it ideal for use on toys like these that are handled often.
The Deadline for Replacing 3M Novec Products is Approaching
In 2020, the EPA published brand new regulations for traditional degreasing solvents. The following materials will soon be unavailable for commercial cleaning applications:
- Trichloroethylene
- Methylene chloride
- Hydrofluorocarbon (NOTE: PFAS – will still be available, but subject to reporting requirements in the US, and varying degrees of regulation in other countries.)
In response to the rapidly changing regulatory landscape, 3M announced in December 2022 that it will exit the fluorochemical manufacturing business at the end of 2025, which includes the Novec line of cleaning products, and it will not take orders after March 31, 2025.”
KYZEN Chemists regularly review EPA regulatory updates, which allowed them to anticipate this considerable shift in the industry. Our replacement chemistries provide assurance not only that these banned substances will be absent but also that they have the least chance of disrupting your cleaning processes down the line. These solutions have been thoroughly tested and are proven to succeed in quality, process innovation, and worker safety.
Two new additions to KYZEN’s solvent offering are KYZEN SLV803 and SLV901. Not only are they drop-in replacements for many of the restricted traditional solvents, these two chemistries are “future-proof,” non-flammable solutions that are designed for cleaning a variety of soils from common metals.
It’s time to act now. KYZEN has a team of solvent cleaning experts to help navigate the choices and decisions regarding your switch. Contact us to ensure your parts cleaning process is using chemistries that will assist in the long term and are free of hazardous materials.
The Care Corner
Richard Burke – Key Account Manager
As KYZEN continues to expand, a new Key Account Manager has been added to the team. Richard Burke joined KYZEN in August and has been settling in just fine. Rich was born and raised in New Hampshire, the “Live Free or Die State,” and joined KYZEN because he feels that “KYZEN has an exceptional reputation in the industry. I have known and worked with several people here at KYZEN in the past and look forward to doing all that I can to help the company continue to grow and achieve greatness.”
Rich attended the University of New Hampshire and studied Mechanical Engineering. He and his wife, Lisa, relocated to Texas briefly when he accepted a job with Speedline Technologies, where he expanded his knowledge in the electronics manufacturing industry. After a few years, they moved back to New Hampshire to raise their kids closer to their families. Rich and Lisa recently celebrated their 35th anniversary and have three grown children (two boys and one girl). Their oldest son works in sales just north of Denver, their daughter works locally in a nursing home, and their youngest son studies accounting in college. Rich enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, fishing, and traveling, and he follows football and hockey, both professional and college.
Have questions about your cleaning process? Reach out to Rich and get the answers you need by clicking here!
Abraham Cantu – Regional Manager – Northeast Mexico
Abraham Cantu joined KYZEN in September and is currently serving as the Regional Manager for Northeast Mexico Electronics & Industrial. Abraham is from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, and he was drawn to KYZEN by its reputation as a large, stable company with a collaborative team and opportunities for professional growth. Abraham is particularly excited about the new challenges that await this new position, including learning a variety of cleaning processes in a range of industries.
Abraham holds a master’s degree from TecMilenio, which paved the way for his expertise and led him to KYZEN. Abraham comes from a small but close-knit family, including his mother, father, sister, a few uncles from various parts of the country, and his fiancée. Abraham enjoys firing up the grill in his free time, savoring a cold beer or fine bourbon as the charcoal gets ready. He also finds fulfillment in spending time in his family’s workshop.
Abraham has already proven himself to be an essential part of the growing Mexico KYZEN team. If you have any questions, Abraham can get you answers! Feel free to Contact Us to get the process started.
KYZEN’S Technical Team – Cleaning Expert Champions!
To use a sports analogy – your team is only as good as your bench. A well-rounded team with talent that can rise to any challenge is the goal of any championship-seeking organization.
KYZEN’s Global Technical Team is available to help solve your cleaning challenges, no matter where in the world your operation is located. With an average-per-team-member of over 20 years of experience, our team can troubleshoot any issue you may have with your cleaning process. Combine that with award-winning cleaning chemistries and process control tools, a state-of-the-art analytical lab, and fully equipped applications labs located globally for a winning combination.
YOUR customers depend on YOUR products being on time and reliable. That is why OUR Team is on YOUR Team, when and where you need them.
Care Corner – Technical Resources Abound from KYZEN
KYZEN’s message of “continuous improvement” is strongly reflected in its educational and technical resources. These resources are some of the best ways to learn about the various industries we serve. On our website, you can find papers, case studies, videos, and this newsletter to guide you through the world of KYZEN.
Our latest additions to the site include the Ask Dr. Adam series and the website glossary. In the video series, Dr. Adam Klett, KYZEN’s Director of Science, discusses a cleaning topic in just 2-3 minutes, offering context and educational insights into several key aspects of KYZEN’s work. These entertaining short videos have been posted weekly in 2024 and will continue into 2025 with a few Spanish episodes in the pipeline.
As you click through KYZEN.com, you will find that certain words are highlighted throughout the website. When you hover your mouse over one, a definition appears, helping you better understand cleaning and component-related terms. A full list of these terms is also available in the technical resources section of the website. Additional terms and definitions will be added throughout 2025 to help everyone gain a better understanding of various industry vocabulary. For example: while IPA is a great beer, the definition in terms of cleaning is quite different.
Most of these technical resources are intentionally non-commercial and do not reference specific product names or services. We believe the education and care demonstrated in these materials allow KYZEN to “sell itself.” This achievement is made possible by our dedicated experts and team members, who invest countless hours in expanding their industry knowledge. It is this commitment to learning and improvement that enables KYZEN to improve continuously.
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