Metalwash

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.

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

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

• Industrial parts washing
• Aqueous cleaning equipment
• Parts washer rental
• Ultrasonic cleaning systems
• Industrial MRO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stroud

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Service & Maintenance: Ongoing service visits, repairs, fluid replenishment, and waste removal included in rental agreements. Provides recurring service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SafetykleencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSafetykleen 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.
• BUPIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial BUPI UK Distributors. BUPI appears to be a complementary cleaning product brand that Metalwash distributes.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging 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

• Xx.com/metalwashltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/100066922734188
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metalwash-limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metalwash