Metalwash
Metalwash is a UK-based specialist supplier of rented industrial parts-washing equipment and aqueous cleaning solutions, serving heavy industry, industrial engineering, hi-tech, and auto-services customers under multi-year service contracts since 1995.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersStroud, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Metalwash does
Metalwash is a UK-based specialist supplier of industrial parts cleaning equipment, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The company designs, rents, and services a portfolio of aqueous (water-based, biodegradable, non-hazardous) parts washers — including manual and automatic aqueous units, spray gun cleaners with patented Solvent Saver Technology, ultrasonic precision cleaners, high-pressure washers, and specialist paint and resin dip tanks. The core technical proposition is aqueous chemistry and mechanical cleaning architecture (including proprietary vacuum-tanker sludge removal) positioned as a regulatory-compliant alternative to solvent-based cleaning under the Solvent Emissions, Industrial Emissions, and Waste Framework Directives.
The business operates a rental-and-service model: customers receive installed equipment, scheduled maintenance, fluid replenishment, and waste removal under tailored multi-year contracts, supported by a nationwide network of regional service hubs in Stroud, Dundee, Penrith, Harrogate, Birmingham, and Dunstable. Go-to-market is sales-led, with trained Sales Advisors conducting on-site business audits before recommending machines; lead generation is augmented by an online Service Selector tool, sector-specific brochures, and content marketing aimed at maintenance and operations decision-makers across four primary verticals: Heavy Industry (freight, aerospace, rail, boat building, bus & coach, aggregates), Industrial Engineering (auto manufacturing, oil & gas, defence), Hi-Tech Industries (printing, food & drink, pharmaceuticals), and Auto Services (bodyshops, wheel refurbishment, technical workshops).
In December 2023, Safetykleen acquired majority control of Metalwash Limited, combining the company's UK parts-washing expertise with the larger European parts-cleaning operator's resources; operations continue under the Metalwash brand, and the entity is registered as Metalwash Limited (company number 3022524) in the United Kingdom. No public revenue, funding, or headcount figures are disclosed beyond a 11–50 employee range.
Metalwash firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Metalwash
- Legal name
- Metalwash Limited
- Website
- https://metalwash.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Metalwash is a UK-based specialist supplier of rented industrial parts-washing equipment and aqueous cleaning solutions, serving heavy industry, industrial engineering, hi-tech, and auto-services customers under multi-year service contracts since 1995.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Metalwash industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Cleaning Equipment & Services
- NAICS
- Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)
- SIC
- Specialty Cleaning, Polishing And Sanitation Preparations (2842), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Parts Washing & Degreasing Equipment (IMAHALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Pressure Washing & Jetting Equipment (IMAHALAB), Specialty Deep Cleaning (Duct/Kitchen Exhaust/Pressure Washing) (IMAIADAN), Industrial & Manufacturing Facility Cleaning (IMAIADAB)
Keywords
Where Metalwash is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stroud
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Metalwash business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment Rental & Service Contracts: Rental agreements that include maintenance, replenishment packages, and service visits. Customers pay for the use of equipment and associated servicing rather than purchasing outright.
- Service & Maintenance: Ongoing service visits, repairs, fluid replenishment, and waste removal included in rental agreements. Provides recurring service revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Tailored rental contracts based on needs assessment |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Metalwash product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Metalwash supplies industrial parts washing equipment, including aqueous parts washers, ultrasonic cleaners, spray gun cleaners, high pressure washers, and specialist dip tanks, and delivers them primarily through rental and service agreements. The offering includes installation, scheduled maintenance, fluid replenishment, and complete waste removal, using water-based biodegradable cleaning fluids as an alternative to solvent-based cleaning for industrial MRO customers.
Product overview
Metalwash offers a portfolio of industrial parts washing machines and cleaning solutions delivered as equipment rental and service packages. The core product line includes Manual Aqueous and Auto Aqueous parts washers for solvent-free component cleaning, Spray Gun Cleaners for paint equipment maintenance, Ultrasonic Parts Washers for precision cleaning of intricate components, High Pressure Washers for fast manual cleaning, and specialist Dip Tanks for paint removal and resin cleaning applications. All machines use aqueous (water-based) cleaning solutions as the preferred alternative to solvents. Metalwash provides these as rental packages including installation, maintenance, and replenishment services, with a growing network of regional service centres across the UK.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Manual Aqueous Parts Washer Solvent-free aqueous cleaning parts washer for small component volumes where visual inspection is important during cleaning. Uses minimum-VOC, non-hazardous biodegradable detergent, rented with installation, maintenance, and replenishment services.
- Auto Aqueous Parts Washer Automated aqueous parts washer for cleaning multiple bulky components in short timeframes. Operators only load and unload; solvent-free biodegradable detergent cleaning, supplied as a rental with full service.
- Spray Gun Cleaner Automatic cleaning station for gravity-fed and suction-fed spray guns that prevents cross-contamination between paint jobs. Features patented Solvent Saver Technology that reduces solvent consumption, VOCs, and operator exposure while extending spray gun asset life.
- Ultrasonic Parts Washer Precision cleaning equipment using sonically generated pressure waves to agitate non-hazardous pH-neutral cleaning fluid at high velocity, ideal for components with blind holes, recesses, and threaded elements.
- High Pressure Washer Fast jet-washing parts cleaner for large numbers of components where visual inspection is required during cleaning. Solvent-free aqueous solution with enclosed operation and built-in safety features.
- Paint Dip Tank Specialist paint-removal equipment using heated aqueous solution to remove polyurethane, acrylics, lacquers, powder-coated, and epoxy-based paints with minimum operator intervention. Safer alternative to caustic cleaning.
- Resin Dip Tank Specialist equipment for cleaning equipment used with resin applications, using non-flammable, non-hazardous, low-VOC solutions. Includes a post-cleaning centrifuge dryer for quick roller availability.
Quantifiable outcome
- Net Promoter Score of 74 - considered exceptional in the industry where 30 is considered good
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Metalwash
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Metalwash technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Metalwash partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- SafetykleencoreSafetykleen acquired majority control of Metalwash in December 2023. This strategic partnership combines Metalwash's parts washing expertise with Safetykleen's resources and network. The announcement was made on 22 December 2023.
- BUPIminorOfficial BUPI UK Distributors. BUPI appears to be a complementary cleaning product brand that Metalwash distributes.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Metalwash competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Crest Ultrasonics: Specialized manufacturer of ultrasonic cleaning equipment and chemistries for precision industrial applications. Comparable to Metalwash's ultrasonic parts washer line and overlapping in aerospace, medical, and high-purity cleaning niches.
Direct peers
- Pero AG: German manufacturer of industrial parts washing and degreasing machines with aqueous, solvent, and ultrasonic technologies. Competes head-to-head with Metalwash in industrial engineering and automotive segments across Europe.
- Bio-Circle Surface Cleaning: Provider of aqueous parts cleaning systems and biodegradable detergents for industrial MRO. Closely comparable as a sustainable, water-based parts washing specialist serving similar European industrial customers.
- Ecoclean (Dürr Ecoclean): Global manufacturer of industrial parts cleaning systems including aqueous, solvent, and ultrasonic technologies. Competes in the same product category serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial engineering customers with comparable equipment and service offerings.
- Cleaning Technologies Group (CTG): Manufacturer of industrial parts washers including aqueous and ultrasonic systems under brands like Graymills and Ransohoff. Directly comparable as a B2B parts cleaning equipment provider serving similar industrial end markets.
- Sturm Group (Sturm Maschinen- & Anlagenbau): Manufacturer of industrial parts cleaning equipment, especially for automotive and mechanical engineering applications. Offers rental and service models analogous to Metalwash, with overlapping customer types and aqueous/solvent technologies.
- Safetykleen: Europe's largest provider of parts washing and degreasing services under a rental-plus-service model. Direct competitor and now parent company after acquiring majority control of Metalwash in December 2023; comparable in aqueous technology, service contracts, and UK/EU coverage.
Broad incumbents
- ITW Illinois Tool Works (Cleaning Equipment): Diversified industrial manufacturer with parts cleaning solutions under multiple brands. Provides overlapping capabilities to Metalwash's customers but operates as part of a much wider portfolio across construction, automotive, and industrial segments.
- Fives Group (Industrial Cleaning): Global industrial engineering group whose industrial cleaning equipment division supplies parts-washing and surface-treatment systems. Comparable as a broader industrial machinery incumbent with portfolio-level overlap in parts cleaning technology.
Regional players
- BUPI Cleaner: Manufacturer of industrial parts washing and degreasing systems distributed in the UK by Metalwash. Comparable as a complementary European equipment brand serving similar industrial customers and product categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Metalwash social profiles
Digital presenceMetalwash financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Metalwash leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Metalwash funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Metalwash M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Metalwash
What does Metalwash do?
Metalwash supplies industrial parts washing equipment, including aqueous parts washers, ultrasonic cleaners, spray gun cleaners, high pressure washers, and specialist dip tanks, and delivers them primarily through rental and service agreements. The offering includes installation, scheduled maintenance, fluid replenishment, and complete waste removal, using water-based biodegradable cleaning fluids as an alternative to solvent-based cleaning for industrial MRO customers.
Is Metalwash a public or private company?
Metalwash is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Metalwash founded?
Metalwash was founded in 1995. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Metalwash based?
Metalwash is headquartered in Stroud, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Metalwash make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Equipment Rental & Service Contracts are the primary driver. The others are service & Maintenance.
Who are Metalwash's main competitors?
Crest Ultrasonics is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Pero AG, Bio-Circle Surface Cleaning, Ecoclean (Dürr Ecoclean), Cleaning Technologies Group (CTG), Sturm Group (Sturm Maschinen- & Anlagenbau) and Safetykleen. Broad incumbents are ITW Illinois Tool Works (Cleaning Equipment) and Fives Group (Industrial Cleaning). BUPI Cleaner is listed as a regional player.
Does Metalwash have an API?
No public API is recorded for Metalwash.
What industry is Metalwash in?
Metalwash's product category is Industrial Cleaning Equipment & Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHALAD, Parts Washing & Degreasing Equipment, with a secondary code of IMAHALAB, Pressure Washing & Jetting Equipment. Its NAICS code is 3333 and its SIC code is 2842.