Delivering web cleaning systems and electrostatic charge control technologies for paper converting.
In paper converting an uncontrolled electrostatic charge can arise depending on ambient conditions, composition and guidance of the material, etc. This can lead to, among other types of misbehaviour, operator shocks and attraction of contamination to the material. In addition, a lack of a web cleaning system can cause an improper processing of the paper due to particles and contamination, such as die cutting particles, ambient dust and insects that are on the web. All these problems lead to lower productivity, reduced profit or, in the worst cases, to serious damage to the production lines and possibly even fires.
Web-cleaning and electrostatic control technologies
The available web-cleaning technologies free the material of dry, unbounded particles as the running paper web or paper sheet passes through the cleaning system. The most common systems offered by some manufacturers include an adhesive roller system and a suction system; both systems offer direct contact to the material. In an adhesive roll system, the cleaning rollers take the dirt out of the material and transfer it to the adhesive rolls. However, in a suction system particles are sucked from the material and collected in a filter unit belonging to the system.
On the other hand, electrostatic control technologies include classic AC and modern DC technologies. These systems generate positive and negative ions, which are brought to the electrostatically charged material surface, which is thus neutralized of all charges.
“The proven adhesive roll system provides customers with low investment costs, very good value for money and ease of installation,” says Rushil Shah, Meech Shavo Tech. 
“However, its efficiency decreases considerably with increasing contamination of the adhesive rolls, by making it less suitable for much polluted material webs. In addition, ongoing consumption costs are incurred because the adhesive rolls have to be exchanged and there is a direct contact between paper and the cleaning system, which can have serious consequences for sensitive materials,” he explains.
The suction system is commonly used in paper converting and delivers excellent performance even for highly polluted material webs. However, due to the direct contact between the material and the cleaning system, it is not suitable for sensitive materials and is more complex to install.
The AC static control technology provides a good ionization at short ranges, but compared to the DC ionization, which is also suitable for longer ranges, it is limited in their performance.
Meech’s contact and non-contact web cleaning systems
In addition to the above-mentioned web cleaning systems with direct contact to the web (Meech’s adhesive roll system TakClean and suction system VacClean), Meech has two non-contact systems, the CyClean and the ShearClean.
“We have four technologies, which offer right solution for different applications and problems. The non-contact web cleaner CyClean is capable of removing efficiently the smallest particles from a size of 0,4 μm, by applying modern fluid dynamic technologies. The web passes through a double-sided cleaning head, which supplies blowing and sucking airflows without touching it directly. The blowing airflow breaks the laminar boundary layer of the incoming web and releases the entrapped contamination. The released particles are captured by the sucking airflows and trapped in the Meech filter unit (AHU). With the fluid dynamic technologies paired with cotton cleaning rollers that do not touch the web, ShearClean provides a powerful cleaning solution to our customers. The cleaning rollers rotate at a very high speed, whereby the boundary layer of the web is broken, the particles are released and filtered in the AHU,” says Rushil.
In the static control portfolio, Meech has AC technology as well as the advanced DC technology. Both these technologies are safe to touch.
Meech has a global service network and it provides technical support through its well-trained engineers who have deep understanding of electrostatics and operating principles of web cleaning. Meech provides technical guidance to customers so that they can decide the right product for their specific need.
Anti-static bars for label production
Meech’s Hyperion range of anti-static bars were prominent at Labelexpo Europe 2015. At the show the company highlighted the ways in which static control technologies can help improve safety and product quality in the labelling market. Visitors could see the complete range of Hyperion static control systems, which comprised 971IPS and 929IPS anti-static bars, in addition to some exciting new additions to the range.
The next line of Meech solutions
“The competition in the paper converting industry is driving the manufacturers to use faster machines that are also able to produce high quality products. This means that ionization and web cleaning systems must be able to meet these requirements or even surpass them. Both machine manufacturers and operators require systems that are easier to install, and more powerful devices to cope with the faster machine speeds,” says Rushil. The next line of solutions by Meech will be in line with the changing requirements of customers and market, he concludes.
