Browse our clientsMeech International will highlight its hugely successful 977CM Pulsed DC controller — the first true closed-loop Pulsed DC static control system — on stand 6G120 at Labelexpo in Brussels (28th September — 1st October 2011).
Meech’s comprehensive range of static control products can help businesses improve quality and productivity on their label printing, packaging and converting lines. Since introducing Industrial Pulsed DC technology to its portfolio more than 15 years ago, Meech has supplied more than 6,000 systems to these industries, making it the clear leader in this field.
“Uncontrolled static is often overlooked as a cause of product contamination and unanticipated downtime in label printing and converting. These static induced defects vary. Take the production of RFID labels, the presence of static on an RFID line can actually cause chip failure and data loss or corruption, dramatically reducing yield, and damaging profit margins,” explains David Rogers, Business Unit Director – Static Control.
Static can be generated during RFID production in a number of ways. Firstly, it can be produced by the friction caused by the printing process . This is made worse by modern high speed printing machinery. This could lead to damage of the circuitry within the chip. Alternatively, when the adhesive back of the RFID tag is peeled away from the release paper, it will cause a static charge. This could destroy the circuitry within the tag and render it useless.
The 977CM Pulsed DC controller is the ideal solution for markets such as RFID labelling due to its combination of precise static control and advanced self-monitoring features.
A key component in any static control system installed on a labelling production line is the ionising bar. The 977CM continuously monitors output from the ionising bar and automatically adjusts the input voltage to compensate for any adverse effects of contamination.
Once the bar’s voltage has been adjusted to a preset level (typically +25%), further deterioration in performance will alert the operator that it needs cleaning.
“It is vital to ensure that the ionising bar remains contamination free. If the bar attracts too many dirt and dust particles it will be unable to neutralise static charges, and will be effectively worthless. At this point, the bars will need to be taken down and cleaned. The benefit of the 977CM’s closed loop system is that it can detect when the bars are becoming contaminated and adjust output to prolong the time between cleaning,” explains David. “It will also forewarn the machinery operator when cleaning will be required so that they can accurately plan their production schedule. In addition, data can be collected and transmitted to allow remote monitoring and logging for quality assurance purposes, a vital component in RFID manufacturing.”
For even greater accuracy, an optional sensor bar detects residual voltages on web paths and rewinds and communicates with the 977CM unit to instruct it to tune its output. This ensures the best possible charge neutralisation for the current operating conditions.
“Labelexpo is a great show for Meech as it allows us to make contact with businesses that genuinely benefit from our static control technologies. With the substantial growth in the RFID industry, we are looking to demonstrate the importance that the 977CM can play in the production of RFID tags and other printing, packaging and converting label lines.” concludes David.
