Summer break soon? Start planning now for a productive autumn

Process fluids in the metalworking industry and water in cooling systems often encounter problems during the summer. Ahead of the holidays, we would therefore like to share some practical advice on how to maintain your fluids and cooling systems – as well as how our solutions, FluidWorker and AquaWorker, can help.

Bacteria and Legionella

Managing process fluids used in cutting, grinding, hardening and washing involves several challenges. During the summer, it is common for process fluids to deteriorate due to rapid bacterial growth – especially when systems are left idle.

Cooling systems, particularly cooling towers, are also prone to microbiological contamination. In the worst cases, this can lead to operational shutdowns, requiring cleaning and the use of biocides. Authorities have recognised the risks associated with Legionella and introduced mandatory registration requirements for cooling towers in 2024.

Metalworking fluid management

Idle machines and elevated temperatures are detrimental to metalworking fluids. Bacteria thrive under these conditions, increasing the risk of starting the autumn with a costly and time-consuming fluid change.

Monitor fluid condition with pH testing and dipslides

Monitoring pH levels provides a quick indication of fluid health. Many process fluids should not fall below a certain pH level to remain effective, but even when they do, corrective actions can often restore functionality.

When pH drops, dipslide testing can be used to confirm bacterial growth and provide a clearer picture of fluid condition.

To minimise risk, ensure that fluids are continuously circulated, maintain the correct concentration, and control bacterial growth. If possible, take the opportunity to clean machine sumps before the holiday shutdown – making restart easier and more efficient.

Circulation during the holiday period can be achieved, for example, with FluidWorker 100, which uses UV light to reduce bacterial levels.
FluidWorker 150 combines UV treatment with automatic measurement and dosing, ensuring that concentration levels remain within the target range. It also allows you to set a slightly higher concentration before shutdown for added stability.

Plan for a more efficient autumn

With FluidWorker, you can automate fluid management and reduce consumption by 40–80%, increase productive spindle hours, and allow operators to focus on higher-value tasks.

You also reduce risks such as dry running (leading to corrosion) or overflowing systems causing wet floors.
For smaller systems, the compact FluidWorker 50 enables easy integration directly into machine sumps – as implemented at Ebbemåla Mekaniska Verkstad.

Use dipslides in cooling towers

For cooling circuits such as cooling towers, it is essential to ensure that chemical dosing functions properly throughout the summer. Legionella testing is typically conducted only a few times per year, and results can take time – by which point issues may already have escalated.

Regular dipslide testing provides faster insight into microbiological activity in the cooling water, enabling earlier intervention.

UV treatment eliminates Legionella risk and reduces reliance on biocides

Industrial UV technology such as AquaWorker is an effective method for treating large volumes and flow rates of water in cooling systems and cooling towers.

With extensive experience in both new and existing installations, AquaWorker® enables companies to reduce costs and risks related to chemicals, cleaning, and production downtime – while delivering a strong return on investment, as demonstrated at Epiroc in Fagersta.