Fully equipped wash bay for Sjoerd Frielink | Waterkracht

Sjoerd Frielink Multidiensten and Waterkracht are no strangers to one another; in the past, Sjoerd Frielink has used a weed control machine. Consequently, when a new wash bay was being built in Winterswijk, the company wanted to work with us to organise the cleaning process using a fixed installation.

Frielink and Waterkracht jointly reviewed the construction drawings, access routes and equipment layout. During the design phase, they determined the required water capacity, hose routing, control systems and frost protection. The wash bay is equipped with a stationary Caddy Automatic 120/35.

The collaboration

• Frielink and Waterkracht were already familiar with one another, but had not yet worked together on high-pressure projects.
• Frielink and Waterkracht jointly mapped out the work, construction drawings and layout of the new washing bay.
• Waterkracht was responsible for the technical design, supply and installation of the fixed system, which included a rail system, frequency control and frost protection.

During the site survey, Frielink and Waterkracht examined how vehicles are positioned in the wash bay, how staff move around them, and where hoses might cross driving and walking routes. This revealed the following requirements:

• The washing area had to be suitable for machines, vehicles and loose equipment of various sizes.
• Two staff members had to be able to carry out high-pressure cleaning simultaneously.
• When used by a single staff member, the full water capacity had to be available for heavily soiled equipment.
• The high-pressure hoses must not obstruct driving or walking routes.
• The pipework must be protected against frost during cold spells.

A standard single-user configuration was not suited to this way of working. The system had to be able to switch between one and two users without the need for any modifications.

Waterkracht worked with Frielink to develop the construction drawings into a practical layout for the washing bay. The positioning of the vehicles, the available space for manoeuvring and the varying water consumption determined the placement of the equipment, rails and controls.

• The stationary Caddy Automatic delivers 120 bar and 35 litres of water per minute. When two users are working simultaneously, 17.5 litres per minute is available per employee. If only one employee is working, the frequency converter ensures that the speed is reduced, which saves energy and reduces wear and tear. This can be adjusted using the adjustable lance, allowing an employee to utilise the full capacity.
• The rail system keeps the high-pressure hoses above the work floor. The hoses move with the user, allowing staff to walk around vehicles without having to re-route the hoses every time or risk machinery running over them.
• The frequency converter adjusts the motor speed to match the current water flow. When a user stops, the system automatically reduces the speed. As a result, the motor and pump do not run faster than the current water flow requires.
• Targeted removal of stubborn dirt or quick rinsing off of loose sand. With the adjustable spray gun, the user can adapt the spray angle to the vehicle, the component and the degree of soiling.
• At a temperature of 3 °C or below, the automatic frost protection system opens a valve. The water then flows back from the pipes to the reservoir. This ensures that no water remains in the pipework where it could freeze.

Waterkracht was responsible for the technical design, supply and installation. During the project, the position of the rail system, the pipework routes and the control system were tailored to the final layout of the washing area.

The mobile high-pressure cleaner has been replaced by a fixed cleaning station. The unit no longer needs to be moved and connected for every cleaning job.

A single member of staff has sufficient rinsing capacity for the heaviest-duty equipment. When two members of staff are cleaning at the same time, the capacity is divided between them. The system does not need to be modified for this.

During operation, the hoses remain above the floor and move around the vehicle via the rail system. At low temperatures, the pipework does not need to be drained manually, as the water automatically flows back into the reservoir. During cleaning, the frequency converter adjusts the pump power to the current water consumption, ensuring minimal wear and economical usage.