The Science Lab
What is Remanufacturing?
Remanufacturing is simple. It’s making an old or previously used part, often referred to as “core,” and working to return it as close as possible to its original condition.
What makes remanufacturing parts complex? The fact that the remanufactured parts in question will be subjected to the same performance demands and conditional certifications as brand-new OEM parts.
The number of industries engaging in remanufacturing parts varies as much as the complexity and substrates comprising the parts themselves, whether they’ll be implemented in applications from automotive to electronics to aerospace.
There is understandable confusion when defining the difference between “remanufactured” and “rebuilt” parts. Remanufactured parts are restored as much as possible to original condition, whereas rebuilt parts are just as their name suggests, re-built, but not expected to adhere to the same standards.
In the automotive industry, remanufactured parts are certified to meet industry-wide standards like ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 by organizations like MEMA, Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, which “champion and advance the business interests of vehicle suppliers and the mobility industry.”
Because remanufacturing as a concept embraces sustainability and environmental responsibility, cleaning chemistry providers like KYZEN and our cleaning chemistries play a significant role in remanufacturing processes. After all, how can a remanufactured part be expected to perform to strenuous industry standards when it isn’t cleaned effectively?
To learn more about KYZEN’s cleaning chemistries for remanufacturing click here, and to hear more about KYZEN’s role in shaping the future of the remanufacturing industry, watch this interview with KYZEN’s Global Product Line Manager, Fernando Rueda.
The Top Five Things You Need to Know About Parts Cleaning
Established in 1990, KYZEN has devoted more than 35 years of cleaning experience to formulate award-winning chemistries and process control tools for a wide variety of cleaning applications. Our research in the lab and in the field has refined the scientific approach used to solve your cleaning problems.
An optimized cleaning process will deliver reliable, and dependable results. KYZEN’s team of cleaning experts will work with you to develop the most effective cleaning process for your specific parts cleaning challenge. You can quickly increase productivity and yields by considering these Five Forces of Cleaning and implementing them in your process.
1. The Cleaning Agent – Choosing wisely will save money in the long run.
Consider the parts you are cleaning and the soil. Are there hard to reach areas, blind holes or vias that may trap dirt and/or chemistry? Do you need corrosion protection? Test to make sure your cleaning chemistry is effective on the soil sets you are using and compatible with all materials of construction of your part and your cleaning machine.
2. Concentration – More is not always better.
No two cleaning chemistries are created equal. The concentration at which they are effective will differ, and most directions supply a range for use. You should start at the high end of the range and lower the concentration in small increments until you reach the optimal concentration for your specific process parameters.
3. Time – Determine the most effective wash cycle time.
A few factors will determine how long your parts will need to be exposed to the wash solution before they are completely residue-free. Is your soil easily removed? If not, can other process parameters be adjusted/optimized to shorten your wash cycle time?
4. Temperature – Too high or too low can cost you more than money.
If your operating temperature is too high, you could harden carbon, oils, or greases, making them harder to remove. High heat could also damage delicate metals, not to mention the wear and tear to your machine. Running at a lower temperature may not take advantage of your chemistry’s solvency, leading to poor soil removal. Optimizing your process through comprehensive testing will help you find just the right temperature to bring success.
5. Mechanical Energy – Cleaning efficiency and effectiveness are always enhanced by mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is available in many forms, and particular cleaning systems are often designed to employ one or sometimes more types of mechanical energy. Commonly available sources of mechanical energy are spray impingement, either in air or below the fluid level, ultrasonic energy, vapor and vacuum degreasing, turbulence within the cleaning fluid, and providing cleaning fluid flow across the surface of the substrate. Not every source of mechanical energy is suitable for every substrate. A thoughtful review of what is available and what will be most effective for your particular needs is always a good approach.
The good news is KYZEN can help in defining and refining your cleaning process from start to finish, getting the results you need to keep your manufacturing process working full speed ahead.
If you’re looking to solve a cleaning problem, KYZEN offers Free Parts Cleaning Assessments to help you identify the best option for your manufacturing process. Visit us at PartsCleaningCheck.com.
The Care Corner
SDS: What Everyone Needs to Know
NOTE: This article was originally published in November 2022 and some elements have been updated.
Safety Data Sheets are short, standardized documents that provide users with an overview of a product’s hazards, proper storage, and shipping or transport.
These written instructions have existed ever since humans learned to use plants and minerals for medicine or dyes. This method of preparation was used by the ancient Egyptians and was written on papyrus and tomb walls.
As humans evolved, so did the information in this document. The United States published the first “Material Safety Data Sheet” in 1968, for the specific use of maritime workers. Today, they are an important part of understanding how to handle and store potentially hazardous chemicals correctly.
There are sixteen sections to a safety data sheet, ranging from Identification of the chemical to toxicological, ecological, transportation, and regulatory information. Each one of these sections is crucial to understanding and handling potentially harmful chemicals or other products. At KYZEN, we take this very seriously and find that knowledge of the details in an SDS can help your workplace stay safe.
KYZEN’s own Carolyn Leary explains this valuable information and history in a Tech2Tech series on this very subject. Check out how Carolyn works her way through this five-part series on Safety Data Sheets and learn what each section can tell you to help while handling potentially dangerous materials in the workplace, and where to find the information quickly if something goes wrong.
Part 1: Understanding SDS’s – Part 1 – Tech 2 Tech On Demand
Part 2: Understanding SDS’s – Part 1 – Tech 2 Tech On Demand
Part 3: Understanding SDSs Part 3 – Tech 2 Tech On Demand
Part 4: Understanding SDSs Part 4 – Tech 2 Tech On Demand
Part 5: Understanding SDSs: Part 5 – Tech 2 Tech
KYZEN’s “Why?”
KYZEN’s stated mission is to be “Where Science and Care Converge.”
While we strive to use that mission as a guide in every cleaning chemistry formulated and every technological development, people are the reason behind KYZEN’s true “Why?” Whether those are the people developing, testing and producing our award-winning cleaning chemistries, or ultimately the customers we serve through our products and technical insights.
In August 2024, KYZEN received a resounding affirmation of our organizational “Why” in unsolicited feedback from a customer during a survey conducted independently by an industry magazine. The customer wrote:
“That survey caused me to reflect over the last 14 years and all the cleaning challenges that were present.
KYZEN has made my job easier. KYZEN brought peace-of-mind to our cleaning processes.
The defense, medical and automotive programs I was involved with would not have been successful without KYZEN.
- KYZEN was there, saving US men and women’s lives from terrorist Improvised Explosive Devices (IED’s).
- KYZEN was there, at tarmac, air and near-space environments protecting forward operating bases and other US assets.
- KYZEN was there during intelligence gathering operations in the war on terror.
- KYZEN was there ensuring US DOD communication satellites enabled real-time global communications protecting the US and its allies.
- KYZEN was there when portable defibrillators were used to save patients having heart attacks.
- KYZEN was there ensuing battery control modules worked to reduce carbon emissions on electric bus (public transportation).
- KYZEN was there when premature infants required mixed gas ventilators to survive their first months of life.
- KYZEN was there ensuring power distribution and flight control surfaces on Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) electric air planes worked in an effort to reduce and eliminate C02 emissions from aircraft.
- KYZEN was there when anti-body research was being conducted on a new virus called COVID19 and the world desperately needed a vaccine.
We accomplished this together.
KYZEN is not just in the cleaning business. You are in the life saving business. You are in the making the world better business.”
These words are now cemented in KYZEN’s history and hang for all visitors to read in the entry to our Nashville, Tennessee Headquarters.
For more than 35 years, KYZEN has remained dedicated to continuous improvement, formulating the most effective and environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries and process technologies for our customers across the globe. With affirmations of our “Why,” it feels like our success is just beginning.
Meet KYZEN’s Own: Jason Schwartz & Curtis Waters
Jason Schwartz:
Jason Schwartz joined KYZEN in 2013 and has served as KYZEN’s Global Product Line Manager for Electronic Assembly since early 2026, where he focuses on overseeing KYZEN’s products and services for electronics manufacturers.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati and, prior to joining KYZEN, did a brief stint in organometallic catalysis research. His educational and practical background in chemistry has and continues to contribute to his success in helping customers solve their unique cleaning problems, regardless of the application.
Jason previously served as KYZEN’s Regional Manager for Eastern US Midwest and Business Development Manager for Evolving/Growing Technologies. He has shared his knowledge and insights by serving on many industry association technical committees in addition to attending and presenting at various industry conferences and events. He has also previously been named an Emerging Leader by Products Finishing Magazine and his latest appointment was as the Chair of the IPC Electric Vehicle Quality and Reliability Council.
Curtis Waters:
Curtis Waters joined KYZEN in November 2025 as Southwest Regional Manager and works from his home base in the Phoenix, Arizona area, where he lives with his wife Leigh Ann and their four children. In joining KYZEN, Curtis brings more than 20 years of experience in the industrial chemical and capital cleaning equipment industries.
He is originally from Portland, Oregon and is well-traveled, having visited all fifty states in the U.S. He attended Arizona State University and his oldest son, Chase, will follow by attending ASU this fall to study Aerospace Engineering. In his teenage years, Curtis spent summers in New Mexico working as a ranch hand alongside his cousin. Two ofhis children follow their dad’s energy and are just as active with his son Ethan being a skateboarder and son Carson playing soccer. Along with the family social butterfly, daughter Ava, Curtis and his family enjoy hiking and gin rummy games.
When asked about his first months at KYZEN, Curtis replied, “KYZEN is unique in that everybody truly wants the best for each other and are willing to go above and beyond to help others. I feel lucky to be here, and feel a real responsibility to do my part.”
Where's KYZEN?
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