KSM's reel to reel roller aims to reduce downtime

Specialists in the manufacture of contamination removal systems, KSM International will launch its ksmsuperclean R2R web cleaning system at the Chicago-based CMM Show in April.

The R2R (reel to reel) system is a slim profile cleaning module which operates at a cleaning width of 200–1000mm and uses a modular construction with the additional feature of side pull adhesive access for easy assembly into moving web production lines. The company says contamination affects web and sheet manufacturing lines which are not usually located in cleanroom environments. Generated by small levels of static charge during unwinding and separation, web materials and sheets attract factory airborne contaminants such as dust from slitters, skin flakes, hairs and clothing fibres. The ksmsuperclean systems feature ksmsuperblue elastomer rollers to remove and trap surface contaminants down to 1µ without abrasive or chemical methods. By moving the sheets through the elastomer rollers, loose contaminants are lifted from the surface and transferred to adhesive rollers where they are trapped and removed from the work environment. Static neutralisation is conducted on exit to avoid further contamination. Used within the converting, packaging, food, medical and pharmaceutical industries, KSM says the system provides significant improvement in end of line yields by reducing production defects such as repeaters, thin line streaking and trapped particles. It claims return on investment can be achieved within a few weeks generating from reductions in line downtime, reduced scrap and reduction in over runs. Additional benefits include increased production efficiency due to less line maintenance downtime caused by premature plate/shim wear or bearing failure affecting coating heads and rollers.