Getting the dosage right in an industrial dishwasher

Four variables decide the result on an industrial dishwashing line: temperature, mechanical action, contact time and chemical concentration. When one drops, the others have to rise. Behind the complaint "we've added more detergent but it still isn't working" there is often not the chemical at all, but a low wash temperature or a blocked spray nozzle.

Water hardness

The most overlooked variable is the water itself. Calcium and magnesium ions in the water bind the detergent's active ingredient and reduce its effect, and leave limescale on the heating element and tank surfaces as well. That is why concentrated dishwasher detergents contain a high proportion of scale control agents.

This is why FORCE MATIC NEW was formulated to work in a dosage range of 1.5–4 ml/l and to stay effective at a concentration of 4 ml/l in water containing 350–400 ppm CaCO3. It can be used in single-tank and multi-tank machines.

Washing and rinsing: two separate jobs

Detergent and rinse aid are not interchangeable. The alkaline detergent dissolves grease and organic residue. The acidic rinse aid lowers the surface tension of the water during rinsing, so that instead of sitting in droplets and drying, the water runs off in a thin film and leaves no marks. FORCE BRIGHT NEW does this with low-foam surfactants and also protects the machine against scale.

The rinse aid dose is far lower than the detergent dose: typically 0.2–0.5 ml/l at a rinse temperature of 70–80 °C. Too much causes foam and leaves a haze on glass; too little comes back as water marks. Small machines can be dosed by hand into the reservoir, but consistent results need an automatic dosing pump.

Switching to a dosing pump

A common problem when first switching to automatic dosing is that the alkaline detergent and the acidic rinse aid meet in the same tube, crystallise and block the line. On first use, the pump and tubing should be flushed thoroughly, and the line should be drained completely whenever the product is changed.

Cost per cycle, not price per litre

A concentrated product can look expensive per litre. But a product that works at 1.5 ml/l gives far more cycles than a dilute product that needs 5 ml/l. Fewer rewashes and a machine protected from scale should also go into the calculation.

Periodic maintenance is part of the result too: weekly descaling, daily filter cleaning and regular changes of tank water. The Forces Kimya technical team sets the dosage to suit the site's water conditions and trains staff in application.