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Q: What makes this product innovative?
A: What makes it unique is it combines three critical elements of parts washing into a single solution. One of those is heat. Even after scrubbing with a flow-through brush, some grease is going to be left behind when using cold water. It takes about 100 to 110 degrees to really get hydrocarbons or petroleum products to turn loose from many of the materials they're attached to, so the Torrent typically runs at 131 degrees, which is well above that temperature range. That heat element really delivers a cleaner product at the end of the day.
The second element is the chemistry. Most chemical reactions are more active in higher temperatures. Much of the chemistry that we're using is more environmentally friendly than some of the harsh chemicals that are used in competitors’ products. The cleaning chemistry that we use produces zero VOCs and leaves behind the rust inhibitor for maximum protection of parts.
The third piece is the pressure. The pressure that the Torrent product delivers onto whatever surfaces are being cleaned blasts away tough deposits. It’s 10 times more powerful than other cabinet washers. The water nozzle is powered by a recirculating pump that sprays water through the nozzle at 450 PSI. This nozzle is activated by a foot pedal and allows the user to direct the high-pressure water-based cleaning solution into the nooks and crannies of the parts being washed. The hand-activated air blower releases a jet stream of compressed air at 90 to 150 PSI to dry and remove any other loose debris.
Q: What was the inspiration behind creating this product?
A: It really was a gap that we saw in the market. The original inspiration was to create a niche product that would outperform the traditional sync or drum parts washers while at the same time, being as powerful as the large cabinet washers. I think with the Torrent Parts Washer you get the best of both worlds. Whether you're talking about the Torrent 500 or 700 series, you really have a machine that's faster and safer than conventional sync or drum parts washers and less expensive than cabinet washers.
Q: How will this product improve the lives of technicians and shop owners?
A: Technicians are paid to work on your vehicles. Spending time cleaning parts is not really what they're being paid for, so saving time is a significant element here that'll make the technician and shop owners’ jobs better—makes them more profitable as well. It also keeps the workspace safer. We're using this system as an enclosed parts-washing system. It’s a solvent-free approach. Shop floors can be full of grease and grime from traditional over-the-sink washers that may splash. All those problems really go away when we talk about the Torrent washer. Employees will not be exposed to harmful chemicals and with minimal use of solvent-based cleaners, this will help shop owners achieve their ISO goals as well.
Q: What has been the feedback from technicians who’ve purchased this tool?
A: Parts washing is not a new application, right? This is really about a better mouse trap. Especially when you talk about technicians and in particular the younger ones, moving away from solvents and mineral spirits and sort of the old school method of wire brushes to clean parts, this is a step change. The effectiveness of the high-pressure and heated spray method, that's really the game changer for the technicians, and I think it ties back to “Time is money.” We need to save time and that's the feedback. Probably the single most consistent feedback is wow, that did the job much faster, much more effectively than whatever alternate solution they had been using in the past.
Q: Any other important features?
A: We sell these machines outright, but there are also rental options available, and for every one unit we sell, we probably rent out or lease 100 of them. The rental options that we do have for these units make them very affordable from a price point perspective. There are also service agreements that we have in place, so when you talk about having your Kent service rep out to service these machines, there are service packages associated with really what is a low-maintenance solution.
