Valmet introduces quality management system at Labelexpo Americas

New sheet quality measurements, innovative moisture profiling as well as web monitoring and inspection systems for self-adhesive laminating processes are now combined in the Valmet IQ quality control system.

While adhesive coat weight control has been available for several years, successful control of the silicone release layer has lacked a suitable online sensor until now, says the company.

The Valmet IQ Silicone and Adhesive Measurement is designed especially for demanding paper and self-adhesive laminating applications to measure silicone coated release liners.

Mounted on a single sided scanning frame to provide continuous cross direction measurement profiles of the silicone coat weight, a second sensor after the adhesive application measures the adhesive coat weight. The accurate scan averages and high-resolution CD profiles measured by the new sensor provide a solid foundation for Valmet IQ's machine- and cross-direction silicone and adhesive controls.

The Valmet IQ Moisturizer sprayboom is used to control final laminate curl and the moisture profile of the release liner to improve laminate uniformity and runnability. IQ Moisturizer sprays a fine mist to the paper in a controlled way, providing a high degree of control and fast response to quality destroying conditions.

Valmet IQ Process and Quality Vision (PQV) provides web inspection and monitoring tools for online defect inspection, detecting coating streaks and voids and video monitoring of key process operations. Defect inspection at unwinding, for instance, helps identify raw material problems like holes or other serious defects that can cause streaks and quality issues not originating in the laminating machine itself. Printing surface inspection at the reeler provides the final quality assurance step. Production and quality parameters can be easily monitored with the system providing a clear view into process and product quality at all times.

Valmet IQ is a quality management system designed for pulp, paper, board and tissue production. It is a customizable quality control, information and management software that is now further developed for the converting industries such as corrugated board and self-adhesive laminates.