For industries that manufacture precision components, achieving reliable cleanliness is...
Precision Fastener Cleaning Systems
for Small Parts
Precision Cleaning for Every Fastener.
Fasteners may be small, but cleaning them right is critical. Residual oil, chips, or plating debris can cause coating defects, torque inconsistency, and premature part failure. Better Engineering’s fastener cleaning systems are built for precision cleaning small parts in batches, or in high-volume applications, removing contamination from threads, bores, and cavities while protecting coatings and surface finishes.
Our fastener parts washers use aqueous cleaning technology to eliminate solvents and ensure safe, repeatable cleaning across high-production environments. With over 65 years of experience designing automated cleaning systems, we deliver fast, validated cleaning performance that meets the demands of automotive, aerospace, and general manufacturing industries.
Comprehensive Small Parts Cleaning Solutions
Better Engineering’s fastener cleaning systems are engineered to handle every fastener type, from micro screws to large structural bolts. Our aqueous parts washers are custom-configured for part geometry, throughput, and contamination level. Each system uses aqueous technology and automation to ensure precision cleaning across diverse materials, coatings, and part sizes.
Threaded & Structural Fasteners
Threaded fasteners require thorough, consistent cleaning to remove machining oils, chips, and corrosion inhibitors from threads and mating surfaces. Our fastener cleaning systems use rotation, agitation, and oil filtration, and particulate filtration to prevent residue that can affect torque, coating adhesion, or thread integrity.
Anchoring & Connecting Hardware
Anchoring and connecting parts collect heavy oils and particulates. Our aqueous parts washers are built for high-volume and bulk-cleaning applications, delivering powerful agitation and spray coverage that ensure consistent results.
Precision Inserts & Assembly Components
Precision inserts and small fittings often include blind holes, internal threads, or press-fit surfaces. Our automated cleaning systems combine spray-under-immersion and ultrasonic technology to remove polishing residue and machining oils without damaging delicate geometries.
Fabrication & Hardware Accessories
Fabrication and hardware accessories may seem simple, but contamination can still lead to coating flaws or adhesion failures. Our fastener parts washers deliver uniform cleaning across mixed batches, ensuring every piece meets downstream quality and coating requirements.
Fastener Cleaning Applications
Our continuous-flow aqueous parts washers and batch washers are designed to clean all types of fasteners, whether loose, fresh off the press, nested, or racked for plating. Every system is custom-engineered for throughput, part geometry, and contamination level, ensuring unmatched flexibility and repeatability.
Cleaning applications: Featured Products
WATCH OUR PARTS WASHERS IN ACTION
Watch how our fastener cleaning systems remove oil, chips, and plating residue from high-density loads. These automated cleaning systems are designed for continuous operation, delivering consistent, validated results across every production cycle.
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Process Focused & Engineering Driven Batch Cleaning Systems
Better Engineering’s fastener cleaning systems are built on decades of engineering experience and verified through real-world testing. Each system is validated to deliver consistent cleanliness, reliable throughput, and reduced operating costs across high-volume production lines. The results speak for themselves:
- Validated Cleanliness: Meets or exceeds ASTM, ISO, and OEM fastener cleanliness standards.
- High Throughput: Processes tens of thousands of fasteners per hour with consistent quality.
- Material Protection: Adjustable agitation and chemistry prevent thread or coating damage.
- Sustainable Performance: Closed-loop filtration, oil coalescers, biodegradable detergents, and efficient heating reduce resource use.
- Proven Reliability: Systems tested and validated in Better Engineering’s in-house Parts Testing Lab.
frequently asked questions
The most effective method is an aqueous fastener cleaning system that combines high-pressure spray, agitated immersion, multiple rinse stages, and a heated drying cycle. This multi-stage process removes cutting oils, metal chips, and buffing or plating residues from every surface, even threads and blind holes. Better Engineering’s systems use multiple rinses, robust oil filtration, rotation and/or agitation, and precision-formulated detergents to deliver repeatable, production-grade cleanliness without solvents.
Yes. Modern fastener washers are designed for gentle, complete cleaning of bulk parts. Gently rotating or rocking baskets of screws, nails, pins, and rivets in motion for uniform coverage while preventing tangling or impact damage.
For most applications, water-based detergents offer the best balance of performance and safety. Alkaline detergents remove machining oils from carbon and stainless steel fasteners, while neutral or mildly acidic blends protect zinc-plated, phosphate-coated, or brass parts. Better Engineering’s team helps match detergent chemistry to your fastener materials and contamination profile to maintain both cleanliness and surface integrity.
Automated aqueous washers streamline production by eliminating manual handling and standardizing every cleaning step. Operators load baskets, select a pre-set recipe, and the machine automatically manages the wash, rinse, and dry cycles. This ensures repeatable cleanliness, faster cycle times, and reduced labor while maintaining traceability for quality audits. Fasteners and other small components can be efficiently cleaned in rotary drum washers or automated immersion washers, delivering cleaner parts and higher throughput across plating, coating, and assembly operations.
Backed by Testing. Proven in the Field.
Each fastener parts washer is designed, built, and tested at our Baltimore, Maryland, facility. Our engineering team validates every system for throughput, energy efficiency, and cleanliness performance.
Better Engineering’s commitment extends beyond the build, offering expert consultation, operator training, and lifetime support. Our mission is to ensure that your batch parts washer and continuous-flow parts washer processes deliver measurable results and long-term reliability.