Static Control
With projections for continued growth in film usage and RFID labeling, static control will get lots of well-deserved attention.
November 2006 by Tom Polischuk
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Static control and web cleaning are tied together at the hip in the package-printing arena. Moving webs and sheets generate static, and static attracts dirt and other unwanted vermin. So, to consistently supply high-quality product, package printers must pay close attention to the static/contamination Medusa twins.
This area also warrants additional attention due to a couple of hot topics in the world of package printing—the increasing use of film substrates and the coming of static-sensitive RFID electronics. Plastic films generate and hold static charges a lot better than paper substrates (more snakes in Medusa’s ‘do) and the relatively expensive electronic components in RFID tags can get fried by static discharges.
So, although static control and web cleaning have always been a concern, there’s every reason to believe that they will be in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. packagePRINTING talked to some executives in this field of endeavor to get their take on the opportunities and risks in this industry.
pP: What markets (narrow-press, wide-press, offpress) do you target with your product lines?
Mark A. Gibis, vice president of sales, Doyle Systems—We target the printing and converting market. In the printing market, the greatest need for web cleaning/static control would be in packaging (cartons), labels, and corrugated.
Matthew Fyffe, general manager, Meech Static Eliminators, USA—While Meech services all these markets, we tend to concentrate more on the wide-format web converters. Their static-related problems tend to be more severe than those with narrower webs. We also have a very high concentration of product used at the winding stages of these converting lines.
Jay Perry, marketing manager, SIMCO Industrial Static Control—All of the print industry variations (flexo, gravure, web and sheet off-set, as examples) have requirements for static control and/or web/sheet cleaning. Static electricity is often responsible for print and contamination problems.
Jim Patterson, president, Static Clean International—We supply all label printers and screen printers, in-line and off-press. Unit sizes that can be supplied range from 3˝ to 114˝.
Joe Overman, president, TAKK Industries Inc.—Over the years, our product line has consisted of an array of both powered and passive static eliminators and contamination removal products have always had broad application usage. Our product mix is well suited for narrow-press, wide-press, and off-press applications.
pP: Which of these markets do you see having the most need/interest for static control/web cleaning equipment?
This area also warrants additional attention due to a couple of hot topics in the world of package printing—the increasing use of film substrates and the coming of static-sensitive RFID electronics. Plastic films generate and hold static charges a lot better than paper substrates (more snakes in Medusa’s ‘do) and the relatively expensive electronic components in RFID tags can get fried by static discharges.
So, although static control and web cleaning have always been a concern, there’s every reason to believe that they will be in the spotlight for the foreseeable future. packagePRINTING talked to some executives in this field of endeavor to get their take on the opportunities and risks in this industry.
pP: What markets (narrow-press, wide-press, offpress) do you target with your product lines?
Mark A. Gibis, vice president of sales, Doyle Systems—We target the printing and converting market. In the printing market, the greatest need for web cleaning/static control would be in packaging (cartons), labels, and corrugated.
Matthew Fyffe, general manager, Meech Static Eliminators, USA—While Meech services all these markets, we tend to concentrate more on the wide-format web converters. Their static-related problems tend to be more severe than those with narrower webs. We also have a very high concentration of product used at the winding stages of these converting lines.
Jay Perry, marketing manager, SIMCO Industrial Static Control—All of the print industry variations (flexo, gravure, web and sheet off-set, as examples) have requirements for static control and/or web/sheet cleaning. Static electricity is often responsible for print and contamination problems.
Jim Patterson, president, Static Clean International—We supply all label printers and screen printers, in-line and off-press. Unit sizes that can be supplied range from 3˝ to 114˝.
Joe Overman, president, TAKK Industries Inc.—Over the years, our product line has consisted of an array of both powered and passive static eliminators and contamination removal products have always had broad application usage. Our product mix is well suited for narrow-press, wide-press, and off-press applications.
pP: Which of these markets do you see having the most need/interest for static control/web cleaning equipment?
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