Cut the Elbow Grease: How Kemet’s Cleaning Solutions Restore Mould Tools Fast

For more than six decades, Kemet International Ltd has been a trusted name in the mould and tool industry, best known for its range of diamond pastes and other polishing consumables and equipment. Now the company is bringing another valuable capability to the sector: a cleaning process that restores used mould tools to a near-new state, clearing away contamination in under an hour — whether the tool is used for injection moulding or die casting.

The Problem with Traditional Cleaning

Conventional mould cleaning typically relies on manual labour and abrasive materials to strip away built-up contamination. The trouble is that these abrasives don’t discriminate — they wear away the parent material of the mould along with the residue sitting on top of it. Over time, this erosion can distort the tool’s geometry, blunt precision edges, and degrade critical surface finishes to the point where the mould becomes unusable.

The knock-on effect is costly. Tools that could otherwise remain in service end up needing refurbishment or full replacement, racking up both downtime and expense for manufacturers who can least afford it.

A Cleaner, Simpler Alternative

Kemet’s approach removes the need for manual scrubbing entirely. The process uses a Kemet ultrasonic cleaner paired with a purpose-formulated, aqueous-based mould cleaning solution. Together, they target only the contamination — plastic or rubber residue, release agent build-up, non-ferrous debris, or tarnish — while leaving the tool’s base material completely untouched.

Operator involvement is minimal: load the tool, run the cycle, and unload it. There’s no scrubbing, no abrasive wear, and no risk of altering the mould’s dimensions or surface quality in the process.

Better for the Tool, better for the Workforce

Because the process relies on ultrasonic energy working through an aqueous solution, it reaches into fine detail, tight corners, and hard-to-access areas that manual cleaning often struggles to penetrate properly. Crucially, no solvents are required at any stage. That means a safer working environment for operators and a smaller environmental footprint for the business overall — a welcome shift for manufacturers looking to reduce their reliance on harsh chemicals.

Part of a Wider Precision Engineering Range

This cleaning process sits alongside Kemet’s broader portfolio of solutions for the precision engineering sector, all featured in the company’s latest catalogue.

Businesses interested in learning more, or in arranging a free trial, can get in touch directly: sales@kemet.co.uk +44 (0) 1622 755287