Cleaning Trays: This is how to clean reusable trays
Workpiece carriers transport components in various stages of production and are used for long periods. Many components, especially in the automotive industry, are oily or greasy, and during transport, dirt and other contaminants accumulate. Therefore, it is important to clean the trays.
Lisa-Marie Bittner
Updated on May 29, 2026
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Contents
Cleaning trays - Key points at a glance
The design and material selection of plastic trays should consider the cleaning process from the start.
Industrial cleaning processes expose trays to high stresses such as heat, chemicals, and water pressure.
The right material selection, robust construction, and involvement of cleaning experts are crucial for a long service life of the trays.
→ In our 3D Tray Generator, you can add drainage holes to the tray to optimally equip it for washing processes.
How does tray cleaning affect design?
The cleaning of used plastic trays and workpiece carriers usually takes place at the end of the production chain or is even completely separated from the production process and carried out by external service providers. Trays are usually designed with a focus on the production process they are intended to optimize.
Nevertheless, it is important to consider tray cleaning right from the start of development. That's why you can specify washing processes in the configurator when you make your inquiry.
How is a tray cleaned industrially?
Usually, production sites sort out trays that need to be cleaned and place them at a collection point where they are picked up for workpiece carrier cleaning. The cleaning of the trays then takes place either in-house or at an external service provider. Industrial washing systems are used for this purpose.
The cleaning process in the washing system
The designs of washing systems are as diverse as the cleaned articles, workpiece carriers and components. In simplified terms, the washing process usually includes the following steps:
Pre-sorting
Removal of foreign objects (e.g. labels)
Multi-stage washing process according to requirements, e.g.:
Pre-wash zone
Ultrasonic
Spraying
Immersion degreasing
Injection flood washing
High-pressure water jet technology
Drying process
The latter is particularly important for delicate electronic components where residual moisture can quickly lead to corrosion. After the professional cleaning process, the reusable workpiece carriers can be immediately returned to the production cycle.
What does the tray have to withstand during cleaning?
During industrial cleaning, trays are exposed to particular stresses. The choice of the right material and design must withstand these influences. Here are the most important factors:
Effects on the tray during the washing process
Solvents and chemicals: These are used to remove grease, oils or paints and can have an aggressive effect on the tray surface.
Mechanical high pressure: Water jets can damage delicate contours.
High temperatures: Drying processes, as is common in industrial cleaning, expose the material to high temperatures.
What cleaning techniques are available?
In addition to standard washing processes, there are gentler techniques such as ultrasonic cleaning.
Ultrasonic cleaning: In this method, the workpiece carrier is immersed in a bath that is set into vibrations by sound waves. This creates tiny bubbles that, when they burst, loosen the dirt from the surface. Aggressive chemicals can often be avoided this way.
Drying: Drying can be done via vacuum technology. Drying processes for sensitive components are carried out using warm air circulation systems or contactless, antistatic air purifiers. The possibilities are diverse.
How your tray can survive many washing processes unharmed during cleaning
Since we have already designed many thermoformed trays and workpiece carriers that are suitable for industrial cleaning systems, we can tell you what matters.
1.) The right material selection
For reusable containers, thicker material gauges are generally used to make the tray stable for months or years of use.
Important properties include:
Impact strength
Hardness
Resistance to chemicals and solvents
Only plastics that are not reactive with the cleaning agents used are suitable. Although high-quality plastics are initially more expensive, they quickly pay for themselves through longer service life, stability and consistent quality.
2.) Design must-dos for cleaning-resistant trays
The design should be adapted to the environmental influences of cleaning:
The design is most efficient when the internal or external cleaning service provider is involved from the start. To avoid unwanted chemical reactions, two approaches can be taken:
Starting from the cleaning agent: Service provider names the planned agent, formary checks plastic compatibility.
Starting from the plastic: formary recommends suitable agents that the service provider validates with their system.
This way, unwanted reactions can be avoided and the tray can be optimally prepared for reusable application.
Conclusion: Cleaning begins at the tray design stage
For plastic trays to reliably survive many industrial washing processes, cleaning should not only be considered at the end of the production process. It is crucial that material selection, wall thicknesses, geometry and additional features such as drainage holes are already adapted during design to the subsequent stress from chemicals, temperature, water pressure and drying.
This early planning particularly pays off for reusable trays: the tray remains stable longer, cleaning quality is improved and failures in the production cycle can be avoided.
High-quality plastic trays are made of materials with high impact strength, sufficient hardness and chemical resistance. Only plastics that are stable against cleaning agents and the intended materials guarantee a long service life and consistent quality.
Thick material gauges ensure that reusable trays withstand mechanical stresses and remain in use for months or years. They reduce the risk of breakage or deformation and at the same time contribute to long-term cost-effectiveness, as less replacement is needed.
The design of plastic trays takes into account mechanical stress points and environmental influences. Reinforcements at heavily stressed areas, water-repellent edges and drainage holes in the cavities facilitate cleaning and significantly extend the service life of the tray.
Early involvement of the cleaning service provider ensures that the cleaning agents used and plastic materials are optimally coordinated. This collaboration avoids chemical reactions and makes cleaning processes efficient.
Yes, high-quality plastic trays pay for themselves quickly. They need to be replaced less frequently, retain their stability and quality over a long period and offer both economic and environmental benefits. The investment pays off through reduced maintenance costs and less material consumption.
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