Meech launches TakClean contact web cleaning system

Meech International launched its TakClean web cleaner at Labelexpo Europe.

The TakClean contact web cleaning system is claimed to provide excellent cleaning power, removing particles as small as 0.5 microns. It is simple to install and has continuous cleaning capabilities to effectively clean double-sided webs from 300-800 mm, at up to 250 meters per minute.

The 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 suitable 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 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 mean downtime is kept to a minimum and operator safety is optimized. 

Adam Battrick, Meech’s business unit director, cleaning systems, commented: ‘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 personalized service, supplying them with the ideal product to meet their needs. The addition of TakClean allows us to do this.

‘The TakClean is an exceptionally simple-to-use system. 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.’

Meech also showed its Tornado contact cleaning system. 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. Visitors saw an enhanced version of the Tornado F4 which cleans single-sided webs up to 1,650 mm wide. It 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 provides an improved, maintenance friendly exterior. The updated faceplate can now slide simply off the manifold body; an enhancement Meech predicts 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 utilizing single length manifolds of up to four meters.

‘We’ve made a number of enhancements to the Tornado, including the addition of our latest ionizing 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 percent, and increases the flexibility of installation,’ explained Battrick. ‘Twin ionizing bars are used in the Tornado to neutralize static on entry and exit, and brushes aid in breaking up of the boundary layer.’

The non-contact technology, ShearClean, was also on show. It is 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 meters and for web speeds up to 450 meters/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.

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