Case Study | Maintenance | Improving Suction Strainer Cleaning at a Japanese Paper Mill

Case Study by NCH Asia Pacific – ND-165 Application

The Challenge

A leading paper mill in Japan was facing persistent clogging issues in the suction strainers of its hydraulic unit. These stainless-steel strainers had been cleaned manually using kerosene and a brush. However, this method could not remove sludge trapped in the strainers’ fine grooves, leaving the clogging issue unresolved.

Not only was this approach ineffective, but it also posed a serious safety concern due to kerosene’s flammability. Therefore, the customer sought a solution to improve cleaning efficiency while reducing safety hazards.

The Solution

NCH recommended ND-165, a water-based degreasing cleaner. Leveraging its excellent performance, NCH successfully helped the customer overcome their cleaning challenges.

Key Benefits

• Cleaning Performance: Simply soaking the strainers in undiluted ND-165 for half a day to one full day effectively removes clogs – no scrubbing required.
• Improved Efficiency: The cleaning process required no brushing — immersion alone was sufficient — significantly improving operational efficiency.
• Enhanced Safety: As a non-flammable water-based solution, ND-165 significantly reduced the fire hazards compared to kerosene-based cleaning.

By adopting ND-165, the customer significantly reduced the labor required for cleaning operations. Furthermore, by replacing organic solvent-based cleaners with a water-based solution, they also achieved a safer and more environmentally friendly work process.