Several important factors, such as concern for the environment, economic competitiveness and technology, have converged over the past 25 years to cause both industry and government to constantly reassess the cleaning phase of manufacturing processes. In the 1990s, many manufacturers of industrial and commercial products were significantly impacted by the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) phase-out. During this time, alternative precision cleaning practices (new and old, wet and dry) were widely investigated. New dry cleaning alternatives emerged, including centrifugal liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) degreasing, CO2 snow, CO2 composite spray, laser and plasma. However, due to the maturity, widespread availability, and knowledge of aqueous cleaning equipment and processes at the time, industry predominantly changed to wet cleaning practices.
This worldwide changeover was accomplished at great cost to industry. Product designs and assembly procedures suitable for CFC cleaning processes required transformation to overcome aqueous cleaning constraints such as water entrapment, drying, and potential corrosion. These changes involved issues such as decreased assembly complexity and increased piece part cleaning and drying operations prior to assembly. Moreover, companies adapted their production lines to the more complicated and costly operational characteristics of aqueous cleaning: equipment maintenance, bath monitoring and maintenance, drying processes, deionized water production, wastewater management, rust and corrosion prevention, larger factory space utilization, and increased labor burden.