The Science Lab
What is Remanufacturing and how do KYZEN chemistries fuel it?
A large remanufacturer for the auto industry based in Texas recently worked with KYZEN to trial a cleaning chemistry for use in their new inline cleaning machine. Their goal was to effectively remove machining oils and metal chips from remanufactured engine blocks while providing rust protection before final assembly.
The remanufacturer currently uses KYZEN’s METALNOX M6353 and METALNOX M6355 to remove carbonaceous soils and oils from their parts. So, contacting KYZEN for their next cleaning project was a logical step, and METALNOX M6314CP, along with a late-process addition of KYZEN CP90N, was a natural fit to finish their cleaning process.
The remanufacturers newly acquired inline washer utilized one wash, two rinse, and one drying section. As part of our consultation, KYZEN recommended the addition of a pre-wash stage with four 36-inch stainless steel filter housings to prevent swarf and metal chips from washing into pump seals and level control devices. Proof of the necessity for the pre-wash came before the trial when it was discovered that swarf had embedded in a top-level switch, causing a failure in the upper float switch allowing water to run over the edge of the viewing lid.
After correcting the overflow issue, trials commenced with the customer’s remanufactured engine blocks being cleaned at a belt speed of two feet per minute with METALNOX M6314CP running at a 13% concentration and 145°F.
After the first pass, small areas of flash rusting were more visible on the engine blocks than before the cleaning process. In response, KYZEN recalibrated the process parameters to clean the engine blocks at a belt speed of one foot per minute, keeping the concentration of M6314CP at a 13% concentration and reducing the heat to 140°F.
While reviewing the whole process, it was observed that flash rusting began as parts exited the CNC machine, so KYZEN also recommended adding one percent of KYZEN CP90N to the coolant tank of the CNC machine to solve the problem.
In addition to implementing the two chemistries, KYZEN advised the remanufacturer to install a KYZEN Conductivity Control System (CCS) to automatically monitor and maintain accurate chemistry concentration in their process.
After three weeks of being cleaned with METALNOX M6314CP and KYZEN CP90N using the parameters mentioned above, the customer’s engine blocks continued to be effectively cleaned without flash rusting.
To learn more and read the full case study, click here.
Understanding Your Cleaning Options
There are numerous ways to clean your parts, and having many options can complicate your decision-making process. KYZEN primarily focuses on a few methods: vapor degreasing, vacuum degreasing, aqueous immersion, aqueous spray, and co-solvent cleaning. Over the years, we have identified some key points to help you select the best cleaning product for your process. In this discussion, we will provide helpful tips on what to consider when choosing a cleaning method.
- The first thing to consider is compatibility. It’s essential to ensure that your chosen cleaning method is compatible with your soils and your substrate.
- The second consideration is compliance. There are many regulations to consider, and understanding which apply to your location can help with your product selection.
- The third factor is cost. Determining how much you want to spend is a crucial aspect of any decision. It’s essential to consider not only your capital investment but also your long-term expenses, such as maintenance.
While there are various process options available, not all will be the best fit for your specific needs. Therefore, it is important to consult your equipment and cleaning chemistry partners regarding your concerns about compatibility, compliance, and cost. To learn in more detail, check out our Solvent vs. Aqueous Cleaning | KYZEN Tech 2 Tech by KYZEN’s own Josh Kramlick.
The Care Corner
KYZEN Celebrates Its 100th Industry Award
KYZEN, the global leader in innovative, environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, is proud to announce that we have received our 100th industry award. This milestone highlights more than 35 years of steady progress in cleaning chemistry, process control, and customer-focused problem-solving across the electronics manufacturing world.
KYZEN’s award journey goes back to 1990, when Dr. Mike Bixenman and Kyle Doyel set out to build a company that balanced strong science with environmental responsibility and a genuine respect for people. The blend of technical depth and people-first-values led to our first award in 2002, the SMT Vision Award for AQUANOX A4512 at IPC APEX EXPO. That early recognition came at a time when manufacturers were navigating major shifts in materials and processes. Since then, KYZEN has developed chemistries and process tools that address real production issues, often in close collaboration with customers.
Our innovations led us to our 100th award, the 2025 Global Technology Award for the Best Product in the North America category.
We are honored to hold these awards, as they mark not just the recognition itself but the ongoing evolution of KYZEN’s approach: advanced aqueous chemistries, modernized cleaning processes, automated concentration monitoring with the original KYZEN PCS, and expanded analytics and control capabilities through the KYZEN Analyst platform. Together, these developments have supported manufacturers in the automotive, aerospace, medical devices, high-reliability, and high-density consumer electronics sectors. Be sure to check out our award-winning KYZEN PCS.
New Year: Clean Up Your Cleaning Act
The calendar isn’t the only thing to change with a new year. Resolutions range from hitting the gym and dieting to lose a few pounds to committing to a new hobby or renewing a commitment to an old one.
“New year, new you” is the common philosophy, but don’t forget to clean up your act in your cleaning process if it needs some TLC too! As you consider rebuilding your cleaning process, the five forces of cleaning can serve as the rock-solid foundation. Need a refresher on the five forces of cleaning? They are:
Force 1: Compatibility and Baseline Effectiveness Match
Force 2: Cleaning Product Concentration
Force 3: Cleaning Time
Force 4: Temperature
Force 5: Mechanical Energy
All five forces can be considered and combined to meet a specific cleaning challenge, but they all depend upon the cleaning agent.
For example, a cleaning agent at too high a concentration, extended cleaning time, or too much mechanical energy for your cleaning goals can damage a substrate rather than clean it.
If your resolution is to run a 5K in the new year and you haven’t run since your high school physical education class, it’s not the best idea to set the treadmill to a sprint speed for an hour on your first day.
On the contrary, the substrate may not be cleaned at all if the cleaning chemistry is at a concentration that’s too low, the process duration isn’t long enough, or a decreased level of mechanical energy.
Maybe you’ve already run a 5K and you’re pushing to run a 10K in the new year. Using your 5K training will help, but eventually you’ll have to adapt your training to increase your endurance and train to reach the 10K threshold.
While all five forces are equally important, there’s a reason chemical compatibility is number one; if a chemistry isn’t compatible with the substrate being cleaned or the soil it’s meant to remove, it won’t be effective. Establishing or reestablishing an effective cleaning process can begin with identifying compatible cleaning chemistry. After that, the other five forces can be adjusted to meet your ultimate cleaning goal.
Sometimes, you need a personal trainer to help reach your new fitness challenges. The same goes for your cleaning challenges, they can easily be addressed by working with industry leading chemistry providers like KYZEN. Want to learn more about the Five Forces of Cleaning to get your process into shape? Click here!
Meet KYZEN’s Own: Octavio Paredes & Luis Fernando Gazcon
Octavio Paredes:
Octavio Paredes joined KYZEN over eight years ago and currently serves as the Senior Technical Service Engineer. Octavio is from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico (the land of Mariachi and tequila), and considers himself fortunate to find KYZEN. “When they hired me, they were seeking someone without experience but eager to learn. I was determined to grow as an engineer, acquire new skills, and apply my knowledge. It was truly perfect timing for my journey.”
Octavio graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He has a small family consisting of his wife, Mariana, and their dog, Blue. He loves watching the NFL and soccer (“The real football,” Octavio claims), playing board games, and dancing salsa. Octavio even competed in Salsa competitions during his time in Mexico. He only played American football for a brief two-year period, but during that time, his team was the national champion.
Recently, Octavio and his family moved to Nashville to work in KYZEN Headquarters. His assistance with the progression of the Analyst2 and other Engineering contributions is much appreciated. You can contact him or anyone else on our team with any questions!
Fernando Gazcon:
Luis Fernando Gazcon has been with KYZEN since January 1st, 2015 (“Time Flies!”), and is now the Sales Leader for Latin America. Fernando was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and still lives in the Metro area to this day. In the 11 years Luis has been with KYZEN, he has considered it a blessing, “…for so many reasons, but mainly our team and the people (is what) makes KYZEN so great to work for!”
Luis also graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He ended his schooling abroad at the University of Birmingham in England. There, he finished his specialization in Manufacturing & Engineering Management. He lives with his girlfriend Melissa and their 11-month-old Shih Tzu, “Chuy.” Fernando’s hobbies include fixing things around the house (“My friends used to call me ‘Handy Man’”), hiking, and gardening. He enjoys playing football (“Soccer so the Americans understand…”), traveling, and learning new recipes to cook, such as pastas, seafood, and different cuts of meat on the grill.
Luis is a vital part of our expanding Mexico market, and we look forward to the work he and his team have in store for us in 2026. If you have questions about your cleaning process, please reach out to him or anyone else on our team.
Where's KYZEN?
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