Surface Prep

Hot Topics: Corona | Flame | Plasma | Static Elimination/Control |
Web Cleaning

Good Static!

Published: March 15, 2010

While most static issues in the converting industry involve solving static problems, in other industrial applications, static charge plays an important and beneficial role.

For example, in 1907, Dr. Frederick G. Cottrell, a professor of chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, applied for a patent on a device for charging particles and then collecting them through electrostatic attraction — the first electrostatic precipitator. Cottrell first applied the device to the collection of sulfuric acid mist and lead oxide fume emitted from various acid-making and smelting activities. Vineyards in northern California were being adversely affected by the lead emissions [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrostatic_precipitator].

So, next time your cut sheets jam because the static level is too high, remember that the same static attraction is helping clean the air!

Roll Cleaner Proving Itself

Published: March 01, 2010

PLYMOUTH, MA | Flexo Concepts has donated a MicroClean Model 48 system at the Cincinnati, OH, demo center of press manufacturer Nilpeter. The unit is

Fieldmeter or Voltmeter?

Published: December 24, 2009

I received an interesting email question. What is the difference between an electrostatic fieldmeter and a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter? And, if I had to pick either one or the other, which one is more useful for solving static problems?

How Much Static?

Published: December 18, 2009

Static is only one of many challenges in commercializing new products and in running production processes. How can we organize our information and prioritize our work so that each issue gets the attention it deserves, and no more? Analysis tools to drive data driven decisions and project prioritization concepts that have proven so valuable in managing operations should also be applied to static issues. To move ahead with on this, we need to establish a performance baseline that is acceptable, and identify maximum levels of static that are satisfactory.

How Static Bars Work

Published: December 01, 2009

Static charge must be reduced on many new film products. The surfaces of multilayered webs formed by coextrusion, lamination, or coating are designed

Welcome to the world of STATIC!

Published: July 29, 2009

Thank-you for visiting ‘Kelly on Static.’ Here, I will share some fundamental concepts of static electricity, apply these concepts to real-world roll-to-roll manufacturing operations, and answer questions on electrostatic theories and applications. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on how webs become charged, how static charge causes problems, and how to dissipate charge to prevent problems.

COF Testing: Why Does it Matter?

Published: August 01, 2008

Coefficient of friction (COF) is a property critical to the optimum processing and handling of packaging from filling operations through to the consumer.

Dyne Levels Part 1

Published: June 01, 2008

Surface energy is a fundamental property of solids and varies from low in plastics such as PE to high for glass and metal surfaces. Surface tension is

Joining to Advance Packaging

Published: June 01, 2008

CAMBRIDGE, MA Nano-Terra, a privately held company focused on the commercialization of industrial applications of surface chemistry, reports two technology

Treater Agreement Reported

Published: January 01, 2008

HARTLAND, WI Pillar Technologies and Empire Treater Rolls, Fishers, NY, have signed an agreement that provides Pillar worldwide distribution rights for

Improve Induction Sealing Productivity

Published: August 21, 2007

A new white paper from Enercon Industries explains the application variables packagers should look for when troubleshooting inconsistent induction sealing.

Polymag Tek Inc Receives CE Certification and Enters the European Market

Published: July 22, 2007

Polymag Tek, designer and manufacturer of contact web cleaning equipment, has received CE certification for its Narrow Web Cleaner (NWC) family of products.

Treat 'em Right

Published: July 01, 2007

Offset printer adds corona treating to its eight-color press and improves print quality on a new product line: in-mold film labels.

Spot Less

Published: April 01, 2007

There are several web cleaning technologies available for various converting applications, including static elimination, simple vacuum, multimodal, contact