Honest guide · 6 technologies

Don’t choose a machine. Choose the physical principle that matches your dirt.

How do you choose the right cleaning technology? Not by comparing brochures, but by answering three questions about your problem. The guide below compares all six technologies honestly — including when each one is NOT the right choice: dry ice is not cheap to run, and steam does not remove rust. No hype, just physics.

Describe your problem

Three questions decide the technology

What are you removing?

Grease and microorganisms call for heat. Rust and paint call for ablation or abrasion. Dust in electrical cabinets calls for a dry process. The dirt dictates the physical principle — not the other way round.

May the surface get wet — and may it be touched?

Electrical rules out water. Moulds and precision parts rule out abrasion. Food zones rule out blasting media and chemical residue. Every constraint crosses technologies off the list.

Do you clean in place or in batches?

A line that cannot be dismantled needs cleaning on the spot. Hundreds of small parts need a bath that works alone. Volume and frequency also decide the real operating cost.

Comparison: the 6 technologies side by side

Every row also states what the technology CANNOT do — the column brochures leave out. Full details and parameters follow below.

Technology	Physical principle	Removes	Does not remove / limit	Dry or wet	Operating cost
Dry & superheated steam	Heat dissolves grease and thermally destroys microorganisms; temperature follows from pressure (Mollier diagram), not from the brochure.	Grease, oils, mould, bacteria, viruses, biofilm, general grime	Does not remove rust, paint or thick corrosion layers	Almost dry — under 5–6% humidity, no chemicals, nothing to rinse	Low — water and power (or diesel) only
Dry ice (CO₂)	CO₂ pellets at -78.5 °C detach deposits by thermal shock, then sublimate — straight to gas, no water, no abrasion.	Grease, oil, dust, adhesives, soot, production residues — including on electrical equipment, without dismantling	Does not remove adherent rust; pellets are a real consumable — this is not the cheap method	100% dry, non-conductive, non-abrasive — only the detached dirt remains	High — consumable CO₂ pellets plus compressed air (drops if you produce pellets in-house)
Laser cleaning	The fibre-laser beam selectively vaporises the rust, paint or resin layer — precise ablation, the metal substrate stays intact.	Rust, paint, oxides, release agents, burnt resins — layer by layer, with precision	Inefficient on bulk grease and biological soiling; the highest upfront investment	Dry — no water, no abrasive media, no consumables besides power	Low per hour (power only) — but high initial investment
Abrasive blasting	Abrasive media projected at high pressure mechanically strips the layers — the fastest method on large, rough surfaces.	Thick rust, multi-layer paint, mill scale, hard deposits — on structural steel, stone, façades	Abrasive by definition — ruled out on delicate surfaces, food zones and precision parts	Dry, but with dust and spent media to collect and dispose of	Medium — abrasive media is a consumable, plus dust management
High-pressure water	The high-pressure water jet washes mechanically — on boiler models, hot water also cuts exterior grease.	Mud, algae, outdoor grime, deposits on vehicle fleets, halls, façades, floors	Wet by definition — the remaining water rules out electrical zones, drainless interiors and the dry HACCP step	Wet — plenty of water to drain; the surface needs drying time	Low to medium — water plus power or diesel
Ultrasonic (immersion)	Cavitation at 28 kHz makes microbubbles implode on every wetted surface — cleaning internal channels no jet can reach.	Carbon deposits, grease, varnish, residues from injectors, carburettors, machined parts, filters	Only what fits the tank and tolerates immersion — batch cleaning, not fixed surfaces	Wet, but in a closed bath — the part comes out clean, the solution gets filtered	Low — bath and power; it works alone, no dedicated operator

Straight to the demo request ↓

Each technology in detail

Dry & superheated steam

Heat dissolves grease and thermally destroys microorganisms; temperature follows from pressure (Mollier diagram), not from the brochure.

Choose it when

Daily HACCP sanitation in food production or HoReCa, without disinfection chemicals
Degreasing equipment, hoods and conveyor belts — no rinsing step
Recurring mould in damp zones: heat kills the spores, the surface stays dry
Auto detailing, upholstery, interiors — gentle steam at regulated pressure

Do NOT choose it when

Rust or paint to remove — that is laser or abrasive-blasting territory
Live electrical cabinets — use dry ice, the 100% dry, non-conductive process
Parts with clogged internal channels — ultrasonic baths clean where no jet reaches

At 16 bar steam is about 205 °C, at 20 bar about 215 °C. A 4-bar machine cannot produce 200 °C no matter what the leaflet promises — physics does not negotiate.

Real parameters

Working pressure: 4–20 bar, depending on model
Temperature at the nozzle: 152–215 °C — follows from pressure (Mollier)
At the surface: over 100 °C at 10 cm — the thermal disinfection threshold
Steam humidity: under 5–6% (dry / superheated above 185 °C)

See the equipment → Problems it solves: haccp fara chimicale de dezinfectie degresare echipamente industria alimentara mucegai fabrica alimentara fara chimicale detailing auto cu abur

Dry ice (CO₂)

CO₂ pellets at -78.5 °C detach deposits by thermal shock, then sublimate — straight to gas, no water, no abrasion.

Choose it when

Electrical cabinets, motors, automation — the only fully dry, non-conductive method
Cleaning in place, without dismantling and without a long line stop
Bottling lines and food zones where water or abrasive media are forbidden
Surfaces that tolerate no abrasion — the pellet is soft, the substrate stays intact

Do NOT choose it when

Routine daily sanitation — steam does the same step at a fraction of the operating cost
Adherent rust or paint — thermal shock will not lift them; choose laser or blasting
Night shifts with strict noise limits — the jet and compressor are audible

The real cost is the pellet: 20–80 kg per working hour. That is why high-volume plants produce their own — a pelletiser makes up to 180 kg/h and turns the consumable into your own raw material.

Real parameters

Pellet temperature: -78.5 °C (solid CO₂)
Blasting pressure: 1–16 bar, depending on model
Pellet consumption: 20–80 kg/h, adjustable
Compressed air: 0.5–4 m³/min

See the equipment → Problems it solves: curatare panouri electrice fara apa curatare linii imbuteliere gheata carbonica productie proprie gheata carbonica

Laser cleaning

The fibre-laser beam selectively vaporises the rust, paint or resin layer — precise ablation, the metal substrate stays intact.

Choose it when

Rust and paint on metal where the substrate must stay untouched
Injection moulds: resin and release agents come off on the machine, no dismantling
Restoration and precision parts — you control the depth instead of guessing
Weld preparation and oxide removal, with no blasting media to manage

Do NOT choose it when

Degreasing or biological sanitation — steam does that far more efficiently
Large rough areas where speed beats precision — blasting is faster on structural steel
Tight budget with occasional use — the investment pays off through regular use

Laser is the only method that removes the layer without touching the substrate — which is why it wins wherever the part is worth more than the cleaning.

Real parameters

Laser power: 1000–3000 W (fibre)
Cleaning speed: 5–80 m²/h, depending on power
Scan width: up to 300 mm, adjustable
Consumables: none — electricity only

See the equipment → Problems it solves: curatare cu laser rugina vopsea curatare matrite injectie cu laser

Abrasive blasting

Abrasive media projected at high pressure mechanically strips the layers — the fastest method on large, rough surfaces.

Choose it when

Surface preparation before painting or coating on structural steel
Thick rust and old multi-layer paint on large surfaces
Stone and brick restoration, where the final texture is part of the result
The best speed/cost ratio on raw metal, when the substrate tolerates abrasion

Do NOT choose it when

Precision parts or moulds — laser controls the depth, blasting does not
Electrical or electronic equipment — media and dust are ruled out there; dry ice is the dry method
Food production zones — abrasive media contaminates

Real parameters

Working pressure: up to 10 bar
Media tank: 25–200 L, depending on model
Operating temperature: -10 … +50 °C
Consumables: abrasive media (sand, corundum etc.)

See the equipment → Problems it solves: sablare pregatire suprafete metalice

High-pressure water

The high-pressure water jet washes mechanically — on boiler models, hot water also cuts exterior grease.

Choose it when

Exteriors: façades, platforms, halls, floors with drainage
Fleets and commercial vehicles — high volume, high speed
Coarse adherent dirt where water volume is an advantage, not a problem
With hot water (up to 140 °C): grease and oil on exterior surfaces

Do NOT choose it when

Electrical or electronic equipment — water is ruled out; dry ice is the dry process
Drainless production interiors — standing water stops the line until it dries
HACCP sanitation that needs an immediately dry surface — steam leaves it almost dry

Real parameters

Working pressure: 100–280 bar, depending on model
Flow rate: up to 21 l/min
Hot water: up to 140 °C (boiler models)
Power source: electric or diesel

See the equipment →

Ultrasonic (immersion)

Cavitation at 28 kHz makes microbubbles implode on every wetted surface — cleaning internal channels no jet can reach.

Choose it when

Injectors, carburettors, parts with internal channels — cavitation cleans where brush and jet cannot reach
Batches of small or complex parts — the batch cleans itself while you work
Auto workshops and maintenance: repeatable results, no manual scrubbing
Parts that tolerate no abrasion but tolerate immersion

Do NOT choose it when

Fixed installations and large surfaces — they cannot be immersed; choose steam, dry ice or pressure
Parts larger than the available tank (though tanks go up to 9,000 L)
Materials sensitive to prolonged immersion

It is the only method that cleans internal geometry — and the only one that works alone: load the batch, start the bath, get on with your day.

Real parameters

Frequency: 28 kHz (40 kHz optional)
Tank capacity: 4 – 9,000 litres
Ultrasonic power: up to 32 kW on large tanks
Construction: AISI 304 / 316L stainless steel

See the equipment → Problems it solves: curatare injectoare piese cu ultrasunete

The reality: many plants need two technologies

A food plant sanitises daily with steam (minimal operating cost) and cleans its electrical cabinets and line, in place, with dry ice. A reconditioning workshop combines laser for rust with an ultrasonic bath for internal channels. A car service uses steam inside and pressure outside.

That is why the right question is not "which machine do I buy" but "which problem am I solving". Describe your problem — we will tell you honestly which technology (or combination) solves it, and demonstrate it at your site, on your actual dirt.

Frequent questions when choosing the technology

Can steam remove rust?

No. Dry steam at 16 bar (about 205 °C) dissolves grease, oils and mould, but does NOT lift adherent rust — for rust you need laser or abrasive blasting. Steam temperature follows from pressure via the Mollier diagram, so "more steam" does not change the conclusion either.

Steam or dry ice — which one for the food industry?

For daily surface sanitation: steam, at minimal operating cost (water and power). For electrical cabinets, motors and cleaning the line without dismantling: dry ice, the only fully dry, non-conductive process. Many plants use both — each on its own step.

Laser or blasting for rust?

Laser when the substrate matters: moulds, precision parts, restoration — it removes the layer without touching the metal and consumes no media. Blasting when speed on large areas matters: structural steel before painting, at the best cost per square metre. The difference is not "which is better" but what you lose if you get it wrong: with laser you pay for precision, with blasting you accept abrasion.

Which technology cleans entirely without water?

Dry ice (100% dry, non-conductive — which is why it is the standard on electrical equipment), laser (dry ablation, no consumables) and abrasive blasting (dry, but with dust and media to manage). Dry steam uses minimal water — the surface stays almost dry, under 5–6% humidity — but it is not zero water.

Can I clean electrical cabinets with steam or water?

No. Water and steam are ruled out on electrical components. The correct method is dry ice: CO₂ pellets at -78.5 °C are non-conductive, sublimate on contact and leave no moisture — often without dismantling.

Why does pressure matter on a steam machine?

Because steam temperature results from pressure — the relation is fixed, given by the Mollier diagram: 4 bar → 152 °C, 10 bar → 185 °C, 16 bar → about 205 °C, 20 bar → 215 °C. A "high temperature" announced without its pressure is a number with no physical backing.

Which technology has the lowest operating cost?

Steam: only water and power (or diesel), no consumables. Laser is cheap per hour (power only) but carries a high initial investment. Dry ice is premium to operate: pellets (20–80 kg/h) are a real consumable — the cost only drops if you produce your own pellets in-house.

I have several problems at once — what now?

That is exactly what this guide is for: most plants need a combination (for example steam for daily sanitation plus dry ice for electrical). Describe your problems and we will propose the right combination, with a demonstration at your site — no inflated list price and no extra technology you do not need.

Tell us the problem — you don’t need to know the technology

Describe what you are cleaning, on which surface and how often. We answer with the right technology (or combination), with real parameters — and demonstrate it at your site, on your dirt.

No price, no obligation. We propose the real technology + an on-site demonstration.