AirJet®

AirJet® cleaning systems ensure direct contact of the solder frames with the cleaning agent throughout the cleaning process. Air bubbles agitate the fluid and ensure circulation. The frames are placed in baskets and must be manually transferred to the rinsing and drying chambers after cleaning. AirJet® cleaning systems are available with or without a semi-automatic manipulator, which is suitable for heavy baskets.

AirJet® Air-Bubbling Technology: Maximizing Agitation and Ergonomics in SMT Maintenance

In the complex ecosystem of Surface Mount Technology (SMT), the reliability of the final assembly is intrinsically linked to the cleanliness of the production tools. Solder frames, jigs, reflow oven filters, and condensation traps are the workhorses of the line, yet they are also the primary collectors of concentrated flux residues and burnt-on resins. Neglecting the maintenance of these parts leads to “The Cost of Poor Quality”—a phenomenon where cross-contamination from dirty tools causes delamination, solder balling, and poor coating adhesion. The AirJet® series provides a professional, fully automated solution using air-bubbling technology to ensure that maintenance parts and delicate assemblies are restored to 100% cleanliness. With the addition of the high-performance AirJet 594, DCT now offers advanced motorized handling for heavy-duty maintenance tasks, ensuring both process excellence and operator safety.

Technical, Financial, and Safety Perspectives

High-Agitation Precision and Simultaneous Processing

For the process engineer, the primary challenge in maintenance cleaning is the removal of heavy, baked-on contaminants from complex geometries. AirJet® technology creates intense mechanical agitation within a fluid bath through thousands of high-velocity air bubbles. This “scrubbing” effect reaches into the deepest crevices of soldering frames and the internal structures of condensation filters. A key advantage of the AirJet 594 and 486 models is the use of three separate chambers for cleaning, rinsing, and drying. Because all three chambers can operate simultaneously, the system maximizes throughput while virtually eliminating the risk of cross-contamination between the cleaning chemistry and the final rinsing water.

TCO, ROI, and Extended Asset Lifespan

From a financial standpoint, the shift from manual scraping to an automated AirJet® system is a strategic investment in margin protection. Manual cleaning is not only labor-intensive but also carries the high “hidden cost” of tool damage; expensive aluminum frames are often bent or scratched during manual maintenance. The AirJet® series minimizes the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) through high-efficiency chemical utilization and automated fluid regeneration. Most facilities realize a full Return on Investment (ROI) within 12 to 18 months through the combined benefits of reduced labor, lower scrap rates, and the significantly extended lifespan of production herramental.

Ergonomics and Safety Compliance

Operator safety is a core requirement for Tier 1 suppliers. The AirJet 594 CRD – SAC addresses one of the most significant risks in maintenance cleaning: the manual lifting of heavy, contaminant-laden baskets. Equipped with a **motorized manipulator**, the AirJet 594 handles the lowering, lifting, and transferring of baskets between chambers automatically. This ergonomic innovation protects operators from strain and exposure. Furthermore, as a closed-loop, zero-drain system, the AirJet® series eliminates the need for hazardous waste discharge, helping facilities meet strict ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) targets.

Selection Guide: Choosing the Right AirJet® Configuration

The AirJet® range scales with your production volume and handling requirements:

  • AirJet® 486 CRD (Standard Capacity): The versatile workhorse for mid-sized SMT facilities. It utilizes manual basket transfer between its three automated process chambers.
  • AirJet® 594 CRD – SAC (Ergonomic Powerhouse): Specifically designed for heavy reflow oven and wave soldering parts. The motorized manipulator makes it the ideal choice for high-frequency maintenance where operator ergonomics are a priority.
  • AirJet® 4127 CRD (High Capacity): Designed for large-scale production centers requiring the highest volume of maintenance cleaning for oversized components and large frames.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Feature AirJet® 486 AirJet® 594 AirJet® 4127
Basket Handling Manual Transfer Motorized Manipulator Manual/Trolley Support
Max Part Size (mm) 400 x 778 x 600 470 x 880 x 600 High Volume/Custom
Process Chambers 3 (Simultaneous) 3 (Simultaneous) 3 (Simultaneous)
Primary Use Frames & PCBAs Heavy Oven/Wave Parts Large Capacity Frames
Construction Stainless Steel AISI 304/316 Stainless Steel AISI 304/316 Stainless Steel AISI 304/316

Industry FAQ: Expert Insights into Air-Bubbling Maintenance

Q: What is the main benefit of the AirJet 594’s motorized manipulator?
A: Ergonomics and safety. Reflow oven parts and wave soldering units are often heavy and covered in sticky flux. The manipulator allows the operator to move the baskets through the cleaning, rinsing, and drying stages with the push of a button, eliminating manual lifting and reducing contact with contaminants.

Q: How does air-bubbling compare to ultrasonic technology for maintenance?
A: Air-bubbling provides a consistent, macro-level agitation that is exceptionally effective for stripping thick layers of baked-on flux and varnish from large industrial frames. While ultrasonics are superior for microscopic precision on sensitive components, air-bubbling offers the “mechanical muscle” required for heavy maintenance without the risk of localized cavitation damage.

Q: Can the AirJet® system remove “white powder” tin salts?
A: Yes. White powder residues, often lead or tin oxides, are physically resilient. The high-energy bubbling action, when combined with a specialized cleaning agent like Decotron T391, provides the mechanical energy necessary to break these salts free from the surface, restoring frames to like-new condition.

Q: Is the drying cycle effective for complex filters and traps?
A: Absolutely. All AirJet® systems utilize forced hot-air drying cycles optimized to reach into the internal matrices of condensation traps and filters. This ensures parts re-enter the production line completely dry, preventing the entrapment of moisture that could lead to soldering defects.

Q: What maintenance does the AirJet® machine itself require?
A: The machines are designed for industrial 24/7 operation and come with a 15-year warranty on the stainless steel construction. Maintenance is simplified through software-guided prompts for filter changes and fluid top-ups, ensuring maximum uptime with minimal technical intervention.

Optimize your maintenance ergonomics and process reliability today. Contact our laboratory specialists to arrange a cleaning trial with the new AirJet 594. We provide full technical reports and custom ROI analyses to guarantee a high-performance solution for your soldering environment.

AirJet®

AirJet® cleaning systems ensure direct contact of the solder frames with the cleaning agent throughout the cleaning process. Air bubbles agitate the fluid and ensure circulation. The frames are placed in baskets and must be manually transferred to the rinsing and drying chambers after cleaning. AirJet® cleaning systems are available with or without a semi-automatic manipulator, which is suitable for heavy baskets.
AirJet_486_CRD
AirJet® 486 CRD
The AirJet® 486 CRD is designed for the maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and wave soldering machines parts. All processes are automated and take place in 3 separate process chambers,...
AirJet_4127_CRD
AirJet® 4127 CRD
AirJet® 4127 CRD is designed for maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and waves soldering machines parts. All processes are automated and take place in 3 separate process chambers, which are...
AirJet 594 SAC CRD Covered
AirJet® 594 CRD - SAC
AirJet® 594 CRD - SAC is designed for maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and waves soldering machines parts. The AirJet® 594 CRD is equipped with a motorized manipulator for easy...

Our products

AirJet_486_CRD
AirJet® 486 CRD
The AirJet® 486 CRD is designed for the maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and wave soldering machines parts. All processes are automated and take place in 3 separate process chambers,...
AirJet_4127_CRD
AirJet® 4127 CRD
AirJet® 4127 CRD is designed for maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and waves soldering machines parts. All processes are automated and take place in 3 separate process chambers, which are...
AirJet 594 SAC CRD Covered
AirJet® 594 CRD - SAC
AirJet® 594 CRD - SAC is designed for maintenance cleaning of reflow ovens and waves soldering machines parts. The AirJet® 594 CRD is equipped with a motorized manipulator for easy...

Case studies

100% RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CLEANING PROCESS

We take full responsibility for the functionality of the cleaning process.

Complete cleaning solutions

We can offer complete cleaning solutions for all existing applications.

Quality of cleaning systems

We manufacture cleaning systems exclusively in stainless steel because it has long-term advantages.

pure quality of cleaning agents

We care about the functionality of the cleaning chemistry, but also about ecology.

Technical and economic improvements

With every project, our greatest motivation is to bring the customer a better technical and economic solution.

Development and customization

By continuously developing our cleaning technologies, we are moving forward and responding to developments in the electronics industry.

Democenters Worldwide

We give customers the opportunity to actually test the cleaning solution.

Direct service Support

For us, service support does not end with the installation, it begins.

References

Our references show the diversity of our customers and how we have been able to
to tailor our services to their needs and expectations.

Aumovio
vitesco 1
samsung
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panasonic 1
Marelli Logo.svg BILE
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flex
honeywell
Logo Hella Groupe FORVIA Bilepozadi
philips
plexus 1
wabco 1
foxconn 1
siix 1
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johnson
valeo 1
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benchmark-electronics2
For 40 years, SEHO Systems GmbH has been the world’s leading manufacturer of complete solutions for soldering processes and automated production lines. Many pioneering innovations in the field of soldering have their origin in SEHO. With our modern, innovative systems and the high quality standard of our products, we are a strong and reliable partner for our international customers. DCT Czech s.r.o. provides us with the ideal system solution for the cleaning processes required in our technology centre. Thanks to the comprehensive solution from DCT Czech s.r.o. we are very successful in cleaning the filter systems of our soldering lines as well as soldering accessories such as soldering frames used in wave soldering processes. We use the INJET 888 CRRD in conjunction with the Decotron T383 cleaning fluid from DCT. We are very satisfied with this technology because it meets the most demanding requirements in the cleaning process.
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SEHO Systems GmbH
Frank Schneider
application technician
schneider
Continental Automotive Czech Republic – Frenštát pod Radhoštěm is assembling PCBs for a major automotive client that requires maximum reliability of all its parts. Due to these high quality requirements, we were looking for a suitable supplier who could set up the entire cleaning process after soldering these PCBs. By working with DCT, we were able to gradually eliminate most of the technical problems associated with the cleanliness of the parts and satisfy a very demanding customer. What we appreciate most about our cooperation is the expertise of the DCT team and their ability to flexibly address emerging technical issues and the more stringent requirements of the end customer.
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Continental Automotive Czech Republic
Zbyněk Zahradil
Quality Department
zahradil
We have been cooperating with DCT since 2006. We use DCT washing processes for cleaning: stencils, PCB overprints, soldering frames, filters from reflow ovens and also for manual cleaning. We are very happy and satisfied with our cooperation with DCT. We appreciate the support directly from DCT, but also from local DCT specialists.
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Celestica Romania
Bogdan Opris
NPI Press Engineer
opris
DCT Czech helped us to solve the application of cleaning the printing templates from the residues of solder paste and SMT glue and at the same time cleaning the soldered PCBs from the residues of flux. After implementing the new Injet 388 mCRD cleaning technology and Decotron CP381 cleaning agent, it is possible to clean all parts in one cleaning machine with one type of cleaning fluid. A comprehensive solution has thus been achieved that ensures long-term stable cleaning results. We are also working with DCT Czech to improve other cleaning processes in our production.
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Connectgroup
Miroslav Černý
Process Engineer
cerny
At Tyco Fire Protection Products, our primary focus is on fire protection products and services. With the transition to lead-free soldering, we have struggled with the quality of washdown results for PCBs after the soldering process. Thanks to our long-standing relationship with DCT Czech, their expertise in cleaning, flexibility and customer solution orientation, we successfully changed and implemented a new PCB cleaning process using vertical spraying. DCT Czech designed and manufactured a high-capacity cleaning system for us, which we have been using successfully for almost 2 years.
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Tyco Electronics
Radek Matuška
Process Engineer
matuska
Since the opening of our new facility, we added both the InJet®388 for cleaning stencils and AirJet®594 for washing reflow heat exchangers. We requested multiple custom design changes for the InJet and DCT worked with us to modify the machine accordingly. We run 24/7 and have had exceptional service with DCT night/day/weekend. The machines are built very well and we haven’t had any major hardware or software issues for the last 2 years.
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Continental Corporation
Christopher Treadway
SMT Manager
Christopher Treadway

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