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Cleaning Method Comparison |
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| Issue | Traditional | Dry Ice Blasting |
| Equipment Downtime | Cleaned in dedicated cleaning area; Disassembly/reassembly; Drying time required | Equipment can be cleaned in place; Dry process - equipment restarts immediately after cleaning |
| Hazardous Waste | Cleaner becomes and treated as a secondary contaminant | No additional contaminant; Dry ice sublimates with contact with targeted surface |
| Labour Hours | Intensive hand scrubbing; Lengthy cleanings; Follow-up cleaning-up can be lengthy | Dramatically reduced - often completed in a quarter of time or better |
| Quality of Cleaning | Poor to average | Excellent |
| Potential Equipment Damage | Grit abrasions; Grit contamination; Movement of equipment to and from cleaning area | No equipment damage; Preventive maintenance very realistic as labour hours are significantly less |
| Safety | Health threats from solvents; Water-based cleaning pose hazards around electrical equipment; Threats to environment | Standard safety precautions; Dry process - safe around electrical equipment |
| Cost | Cleaner becomes additional hazardous waste; expensive solvents; Additional labour | Minimal - cost of dry ice |