Alphasonics to stage five-day roll cleaning trial

From May 25, Alphasonics will conduct a continuous roll cleaning trial streamed online, live from its UK manufacturing facility for 24 hours a day over the course of five days, with no breaks. 

Viewers will be able to see rolls being cleaned on a continuous cleaning cycle using Alphasonics’ Active Cavitation, Enhanced SuperSweep and Alphasound technologies simultaneously.

Chris Jones, UK and Ireland sales manager and marketing manager, said: ‘There are some horror stories surrounding ultrasonics that date from systems which circulated in the 1980s and early 1990s where equipment was low frequency, low specification and generally not fit for purpose. 

‘We have competitors around the world that jump on these stories from before our time in the industry and we unfortunately get tarred with the same brush, despite the fact our ultrasonic technology simply cannot damage rolls. We’re giving customers the opportunity to see for themselves what our equipment can do, and more to the point, what it can’t do in relation to anilox roll damage. We’re sending out a strong message to the industry that our systems are the safest and most effective on the market.’

Six rolls in total, three brand new and three with existing superficial end damage, will be cleaned in order to highlight that through controlling ultrasonics in the right manner, roll damage need not be associated with Alphasonics’ equipment. In total, the rolls will go through the equivalent of five years’ worth of cleaning in these five days with just over 1,400 cleaning cycles taking place. 

A full time-lapsed version of the trial will be available on the company’s YouTube channel afterwards. In addition, the day before the broadcast begins, viewers will be given access to the stream to watch the broadcast being set up along with a live insight into Alphasonics’ workshop floor. 

Alphasonics plans to run a non-stop cleaning cycle for the full five days interspersed with comment and discussion through the trial. Rolls have been supplied by some of the leading anilox roll manufacturers, including Pamarco Global Graphics, who are reportedly keen to support the experiment and see the results. Troika Systems will also be part of the trial to check the rolls using its AniCAM quality control tool. Checks will be carried out before the trial begins and live on camera at the conclusion of the trial to verify the results independently. 

‘The idea is to give viewers a ‘no holds barred’ access of the full process to ensure transparency and clarity of the trial,’ added Jones. ‘By carrying out this broadcast Alphasonics is looking to put the falsities and hearsay to bed once and for all’.