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Hydra: Automated multi-stage surface cleaning

Hydra cleans every device through dry, wet, and air stages on a continuous conveyor, reaching the seams and connectors hand cleaning misses, at up to 600 units an hour.

Hydra
  1. 600

    Units per hour at full speed

    Typically 250, versus 60 by hand

  2. 4x

    More units than manual cleaning

    On average

  3. 3

    Cleaning stages

    Dry, wet, and air

  4. 360°

    High-force airflow

    From 12 air guns

In refurbishment, the grade sets the resale price, and small cosmetic issues can drop a working device a grade. At scale, those differences add up.

Hydra applies the same multi-stage clean to every device, including the areas that are easy to miss, so more units meet higher cosmetic standards and sell for more.

Hydra goes beyond exposed surfaces to the grooves, seams, and connectors where debris usually stays. Every device leaves with the same level of cleanliness, giving downstream stations a standard input.

Manual cleaning averages a minute per unit. Hydra’s conveyor typically feeds 250 units an hour, up to 600, and hands each unit straight to the next step of the automated line with no operator handoff.

The automated line Hydra runs in is built on one idea: machines fed enough data make better decisions than a manual process can. The more Hydra runs, the better it predicts how long each batch needs, taking guesswork out of throughput.

Hydra video

How Hydra works

  1. Load

    Devices go on a conveyor that carries them through all three cleaning stages.

  2. Dry clean

    Brush rollers wipe flat surfaces while 12 air guns drive 360-degree airflow into seams and sockets. A vacuum extracts the loosened debris so it never reaches the wet stage.

  3. Wet clean

    Three sets of rollers apply even pressure. The first, saturated with solvent, lifts adhesive residue; the next two, each drier, refine the surface.

  4. Air dry

    Focused high-velocity air clears solvent from top and bottom surfaces, then the conveyor delivers the unit to an operator or the next automated stage.

Common questions

How does Hydra handle heavily soiled devices?

Its staged process removes loose particles before wet cleaning, so contaminants are not spread. For heavier soiling, operators can adjust conveyor speed, cleaning intensity, and the amount of solvent on the rollers.

Which devices are compatible?

Hydra has been used with laptops, routers, and set-top boxes. Top rollers adjust to device height automatically, and interchangeable brushes and belt guides tailor it to each product. If a device fits the conveyor and can be guided through securely, Hydra can be configured to clean it.

How does Hydra fit into my recovery flow?

It runs as a standalone station with loading and unloading at either end, or sits between intake, testing, and grading. Devices stay on a guided path throughout, which keeps handling low and the line moving.

How long does cleaning take?

Hydra works continuously at around 250 units an hour, up to 600 depending on cleaning needs. Manual cleaning takes about a minute per device with dedicated handling.

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