The 5 most common bacteria traps in a metalworking fluid system

1 Jul 2015

Bacteria grow everywhere, all the time. It is therefore extremely important never to allow them to remain in a corner somewhere multiplying!

Here are the five most common places where bacteria can thrive in a metalworking fluid system:

1. Hoses with fluid

Hoses and pipes that are filled with metalworking fluid but which are rarely used often contain bacteria. Make sure to empty hoses when you are finished with them, or flush the pipes in short, regular intervals!

2. Small volumes

Small volumes that are left over in sedimentation tanks or in machinery over the weekend are a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Empty all parts of the system if possible! Otherwise keep a slight flow going so that it never stands still.

3. Chip bins

If the chip bin has a low volume of metalworking fluid that is pumped back to the tank, it is highly likely to contain bacteria. How long are the bacteria left in the chip bin before being pumped back into the system?

4. Wet components

Are the components wet when they enter the system? Do small splashes leak over from a wash bath? Have you got good circulation in the system, but bacteria get in from somewhere else? Watch out!

5. Filter cakes and sediment

Filter cakes below the surface and a lot of sediment in large pipes, this is where bacteria grow! Biofilm and mess blocking up the flow in the system can quickly cause bacteria problems and other disruptions in the process. Keep a check on what the filter mesh looks like, and if the flows seems to be reduced somewhere in the system.

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