Browse our clientsMeech International will highlight its total solutions offering for web cleaning and static control on stand 6G120 at Labelexpo in Brussels (28th September — 1st October 2011).
With the launch of its new TakClean™ web cleaner, Meech cements its position as the industry’s leading supplier of web cleaning technologies. Presenting manufacturers with a variety of both contact and non-contact cleaners, Meech is able to provide businesses with a customised cleaning solution regardless of production requirements.
Adam Battrick, Meech’s Business Unit Director - Cleaning Systems comments: “We are proud to offer a complete range of web cleaning solutions to our customers. Meech is a customer-centric company and as such, we like to afford each customer a personalised service, supplying them with the ideal product to meet their needs. The addition of TakClean™ allows us to do this.”
TakClean™
Debuting at Labelexpo, TakClean™ is Meech’s newest contact web cleaning system. Designed directly as a result of requests by several existing customers within the label and narrow web market, TakClean™ provides excellent cleaning power, removing particles as small as 0.5 microns. Simple to install and with continuous cleaning capabilities, TakClean™ effectively cleans double-sided webs from 300 – 800 mm, at a speed of up to 250 meters per minute.
The TakClean™ system features the specially formulated ‘TransTak’ - elastomer contact cleaning rollers and perforated adhesive rolls. Working in combination with Meech static control technology, the integrated ‘TransTak’ rollers mean TakClean™ is the ultimate contact web cleaning device for sensitive materials.
When cleaning, the ‘TransTak’ elastomer rollers make contact with the web, lifting contamination from the product surface. Available in a variety of Shore A ratings, the cured silicone elastomer rollers are proven to have no ‘free chemistry’, guaranteeing that the cleaned surface remains trace free.
Once the ‘TransTak’ rollers have lifted the particles, they are transferred, by contact, to the surface of the adhesive rolls. The adhesive rolls are manufactured with a release coating to ensure easy unwinding. In addition, a high adhesive mass means the TakClean™ can run for an extended period between material changes. When changes are required, 63 easily removed (tear off) roll sections guarantee that downtime is kept to a minimum, and operator safety is optimised.
“The TakClean™ is an exceptionally simple-to-use system,” says Adam Battrick. “It’s suitable for use with most narrow web applications.. Like our other products, it is also waste efficient as the operator only needs to remove the contaminated length of adhesive roll on changeover. We’re very happy to launch this product at Labelexpo and believe it will sit perfectly alongside our extended and comprehensive web cleaning range.”
Tornado
Meech’s Tornado contact cleaning system has proven extremely popular since its initial launch. Aimed at label, digital and carton printers, the Tornado is available in two versions — the F4 and F5 — featuring compact extraction or vacuum fan extraction respectively. At Labelexpo, visitors will be the first to see an enhanced version of the Tornado F4. Cleaning single-sided webs up to 1,650 mm wide, the F4 is also capable of cleaning double-sided webs up to 750 mm wide. The F5 will clean single- and double-sided webs up to 4,000 mm.
A new design presents users with an improved, maintenance friendly exterior. The updated faceplate can now slide simply off the manifold body; an enhancement Meech predict could save manufacturers up to two hours downtime. Following extensive airflow analysis, the shape of the Tornado manifold has also been adapted to achieve an even vacuum across the product. Consequently, the Tornado requires fewer duct connections and is capable of utilising single length manifolds of up to 4 metres.
“We’ve made a number of enhancements to the Tornado, including the addition of our latest ionising bar technology. The updated shape of the manifold is arguably the most important change made. It will allow operators to reduce the web contact area required for the manifold by 52%, and increases the flexibility of installation,” explains Adam Battrick. “Twin ionising bars are used in the Tornado to neutralise static on entry and exit, and brushes aid in breaking up of the boundary layer,” he continues.
Meech ShearClean™
Meech’s non-contact technology, the ShearClean™ is ideally suited for web cleaning where contact technology is not practical due to scratch-prone or sensitive surfaces. These might include special coatings or decorative labels.
ShearClean™ is available for web widths up to 2.1 metres and for web speeds up to 450 metres/min, although faster speeds can be achieved by adjusting factory settings. Incorporating static control technology, the ShearClean offers users a more efficient and effective cleaning process than equivalent systems.
The ShearClean™ works by generating an air current, which breaks up the boundary layer on the surface of the product being cleaned. To achieve this, two cotton-covered rollers spin at speeds in excess of 4,000 RPM, in the opposite direction of the web. A highly effective vacuum system then removes all particles from the web and boundary layer. The ShearClean™ also employs static control to neutralise the web and remove dirt. As a result, the cleaned webs are significantly less likely to the risk of re-attraction of contaminants to their surfaces.
ShearClean can be tailored to suit customers’ requirements, not just in terms of size but also in sophistication. For instance, Meech can provide different upgrades to create a fully programmable unit.
“This is a very exciting Labelexpo for us. It’s the first time we will be showcasing our complete web cleaning range and we are looking forward to presenting customers with tailored solutions to fit their individual web cleaning needs. Traditionally, Meech is most associated with static control products, but the introduction of TakClean™ will change this. We have a diverse product offering, whether a customer is seeking a web cleaning or static control solution - or both. Meech is their best partner,” concludes Adam Battrick.
