As component geometries become more intricate and cleanliness standards rise, advanced cleaning technologies are becoming essential across high-tech industries. The SBS Ecoclean Group delivers innovative systems and services for industrial component cleaning and surface treatment in sectors such as e-mobility, aerospace, precision optics, semiconductors, and vacuum technology. Today, we speak with Rainer Straub, Head of High Purity Cleaning at Ecoclean’s Center of Competence in Filderstadt. He shares insights into vacuum-based Pulsated Pressure Cleaning (PPC), a technology designed to meet the most demanding cleanliness requirements and to enable future-ready cleaning solutions.
(?) MFN: Thank you for taking the time for this interview, Mr. Straub. We are excited to learn more about this topic today. To start with, can you tell us a little bit more about Pulsated Pressure Cleaning and its relevance in industrial parts cleaning?
(!) R. S.: Thank you, I’m pleased to talk about this topic today. Pulsated Pressure Cleaning, or PPC, is a vacuum-based cleaning technology developed to address the evolving challenges in industrial parts cleaning, particularly in high-purity applications. As manufacturing technologies advance — think of processes like electrical discharge machining (EDM) — we are seeing components with increasingly complex geometries and significantly smaller features, such as microbores and deep, narrow cavities.
These design innovations are often driven by performance requirements, but they also introduce new cleaning challenges. In many cases, the question of whether a part can be effectively cleaned is not considered during the engineering phase. Cleaning is typically addressed later in the process chain, which means that we, as a supplier of parts cleaning equipment, need technologies that can adapt to these challenges without compromising cleanliness standards. Pulsated Pressure Cleaning is designed for this purpose.
(?) MFN: Interesting. Can you explain in more detail what Pulsated Pressure Cleaning actually is and how it works?
(!) R. S.: Absolutely. Pulsated Pressure Cleaning is a highly effective method based on cyclic pressure variations within a cleaning chamber. By repeatedly lowering and raising the pressure around the specific vapor pressure of the cleaning medium — whether aqueous or solvent-based — we induce the formation and collapse of vapor bubbles. These microbubbles generate dynamic cleaning effects through cavitation, displacement, and agitation, which occur independently of the component’s geometry.
(?) MFN: Mr. Straub, can you tell us in which industries Pulsated Pressure Cleaning is especially useful?
(!) R. S.: PPC is particularly valuable in industries where component cleanliness is not just a quality factor but a functional necessity. This includes sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing, vacuum technology, aerospace, and medical device production. In these environments, even microscopic contamination can compromise performance, reliability, or regulatory compliance.
(?) MFN: Do you have some examples of typical parts and components?
(!) R. S.: Yes, typical components often have complex internal structures or microfeatures where conventional cleaning methods fall short. Pulsated Pressure Cleaning enables the removal of contaminants even from deep, narrow, or blind holes without requiring direct mechanical access. PPC is particularly effective in such scenarios.
For example, additively manufactured components like medical implants often feature porous, sponge-like structures with large surface areas. These shadowed and recessed zones are difficult to clean using conventional methods. PPC enables reliable removal of residual powders, polishing agents, and cleaning media, even from these challenging geometries.
Similarly, components such as tubes, capillaries, and parts with long cooling channels or blind holes have extended geometries with small inner diameters. Traditional methods like flood washing, spraying, or ultrasonic cleaning struggle to reach these micro-internal spaces due to hydrostatic pressure and limited media exchange. PPC overcomes this by enabling repeated, dynamic exchange of cleaning and rinsing media, effectively flushing out contaminants.
In cases involving highly sensitive materials, ultrasonic cleaning may cause cavitation damage due to its mechanical intensity. PPC, either as a standalone process or in combination with ultrasound, offers a gentler alternative for surface treatment.
Lastly, for delicate precision components cleaned in bulk without rotational movement, PPC ensures thorough media penetration and efficient removal of trapped contamination. Its ability to rapidly exchange media multiple times makes it ideal for achieving consistent cleanliness in mass production environments.
(?) MFN: The technology overall is not completely new. Can you explain what is special about Ecoclean’s approach?
(!) R. S.: You are right. Vacuum-based cleaning as a concept has been around for some time. What sets Ecoclean apart is how we have taken this established principle and significantly advanced it to meet the increasingly complex demands of industrial parts cleaning. Our Pulsated Pressure Technology is now available in both immersion-type and chamber systems, using either aqueous media or solvents, and it is tailored to a wide range of component geometries and sensitivities.
Ecoclean’s Pulsated Pressure Cleaning system offers a range of specialized modes — such as Basic, Soft, Booster, and Spin. Each mode is tailored to address different cleaning challenges and has been developed and validated through extensive testing to ensure that it meets the specific requirements of various component types. This modular approach allows us to adapt the cleaning process precisely to the task at hand, whether it involves delicate surfaces, complex internal structures, or targeted flushing needs. The result is a highly flexible and effective individual cleaning solution.
(?) MFN: Interesting, so can Pulsated Pressure Cleaning be integrated into any Ecoclean cleaning system?
(!) R. S.: Pulsated Pressure Cleaning can be integrated into various Ecoclean cleaning systems. It’s compatible with both immersion and chamber systems and can be applied with either aqueous or solvent media. For example, PPC technology is integrated into aqueous systems such as the EcoCvario, EcoCvela, and UCM PerformanceLine, as well as into solvent systems such as the EcoCcompact and EcoCcore. Integration depends on the cleaning task and system configuration, but overall, PPC is a flexible enhancement across our portfolio.
(?) MFN: How do you find the right solution for the various cleaning tasks?
(!) R. S.: We work closely with our customers to identify the best approach for their specific cleaning challenges. At our Test Center, clients can run trials with their actual components under real conditions. This allows us to validate cleaning performance before any investment is made in a system with PPC integration.
For particularly complex parts — especially those that currently cannot be cleaned effectively with conventional technologies — we also offer contract cleaning services. This gives customers access to our advanced capabilities while we jointly explore long-term solutions.
(?) MFN: One last question, Mr. Straub. How are customers responding to PPC — and what does that mean for the future development of the technology?
(!) R. S.: The feedback we are receiving from the field is very encouraging. Customers who previously struggled to meet their cleaning requirements are now achieving reliable results with Ecoclean’s Pulsated Pressure Cleaning. The growing number of inquiries, especially for trials at our Test Center, shows that the process is gaining traction and meeting a real need in the market.
Looking forward, we’re working on expanding PPC integration across our global product portfolio. It’s not just an add-on — it’s becoming a core capability in our systems.
In essence, PPC has established itself as a complementary method alongside traditional technologies such as ultrasonic cleaning, injection flood washing, and spraying processes. It is helping us, and our customers, tackle the rising complexity of high-quality components with confidence.
MFN would like to thank Rainer Straub for this interview!
For Information:
Ecoclean GmbH
Kathrin Gross, Marketing
70794 Filderstadt, Germany
Tel. +49.711.7006-223
Fax +49.711.7006-148
E-mail: kathrin.gross@ecoclean-group.net
www.ecoclean-group.net
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