System for and method of by-product removal from a metal substrate

An automated method of treating a metal sheet, the method comprising:

• conveying the metal sheet to be cleaned through a substrate cleaning system via an automated conveyor, wherein the automated conveyor comprises at least a first upper sprayer;
• spraying, with the first upper sprayer, the metal sheet with a first cleaning solution, wherein a temperature of the first cleaning solution is maintained below a boiling point of the first cleaning solution;
• scrubbing the sprayed metal sheet with a first automated brush;
• rinsing, with a second upper sprayer, the scrubbed metal sheet with a second cleaning solution, wherein a temperature of the second cleaning solution is maintained below a boiling point of the second cleaning solution;
• drying the metal sheet by passing the metal sheet through a drying module;
• providing an automated filter media disposed within a filtration system, the filtration system positioned below the first upper sprayer and comprising a grate, runoff guides, a filter media dispenser, and a collection tray, wherein the collection tray is disposed below the grate and is connected to a filtering module disposed beneath the collection tray;
• collecting debris on top of the automated filter media and onto the grate;
• passing the first cleaning solution through the automated filter media and through the grate;
• directing the first cleaning solution to the collection tray and into a tank for filtration;
• pumping the first filtered cleaning solution from the tank to a heat exchanger;
• and
• directing the first filtered cleaning solution to the first upper sprayer.