EXCLUSIVE Web Tension Control & Guiding Keeping clean in the web world
Donald Lewis from Meech has spoken exclusively to Converter about changes in web-cleaning and static control systems and how the company plans to move forward in this sector in the near future
Since 1907, Meech International has been developing and manufacturing systems for the
static control, contact and non-contact web- cleaning sectors. Today, around 85 per cent of the company’s products are exported to over 60 countries across the world. Donald Lewis is the business development manager at Meech, and here he explains more about what changes the company has introduced in recent years and what else is in store for this sector. In the narrow web world, we are heavily involved in static control and web-cleaning. Our most recent adaptation is our latest web cleaner called CyClean, a compact, non-contact system that has been specially designed to remove and extract contamination to below one micron. The web cleaner will also fit into small spaces, which allows for flexible positioning and easy installation. It’s quite complex compared to the previous model. It features a powerful blowing airflow that strips the boundary layer and contamination from the web surface, with two vacuum airflows catching all the turbulent air and contamination from within the cleaning head. The system also features four shockless AC ionising bars, which ensure the neutralisation of any static charge present on the web. A recent enhancement that was developed for the CyClean is the new Air Handling Unit, the AHUv3, which is tailored to the needs of the narrow web industry. The AHU, which improves airflow efficiency and allows easy removal and collection of contaminants, also features an F8 grade washable ‘labyrinth’ filter, which
reduces the chances of premature blockage in the airflow system. We have also recently produced a compact air handling unit that is predominantly designed for narrow web label or narrow web presses, and that was new at the beginning of this year. Historically, static control on narrow web
presses used high-tension cables going to the static control bars, which operated between five and 10,000 volts. It meant that you had a high-tension cable running to each bar with individual cables running off the bars. Presses are now stuffed full of electronics and technology where high voltage cabling can cause interference. We have products in our Hyperion range with 24V supply built into the bar.
Providing a global service A big part of Meech’s ethos is to understand our customers’ requirements and provide global service and support. This is done through a worldwide network of distributors that provide local, on the spot solutions at any time of the day. Furthermore, we work closely with both end users and distributors whenever we decide to update our equipment or launch new products. For instance, the design of the CyClean came to fruition after conducting extensive research and recognising customers’ demands. We are a global company and we host quite a raft of our own companies in the US, China, Hungary, Belgium, Australasia and India, with a lot of distributors around the world. We pride ourselves on very close global support for our OEMs. It is important that our customers get the
Meech International’s Donald Lewis
support they need. Our global standing is underpinning how we move forward. Annually, Meech exports to almost 200 customers and our global user list has now grown in excess of 7,000 companies. This customer base is split between a number of different industries, including plastics, packaging, converting and print. Late last year, for instance, an installation of Meech’s 929IPS static control bars took place at the RPC Group, one of Europe's largest suppliers of plastic packaging. The bars were acquired in order to reduce congestion on production lines, where high levels of static were having a serious effect on parison alignment.
Exploring new markets Looking ahead, we are hoping to really drive forward into wider web applications, and we are already progressing quite well with that. We plan to launch new products in both the static control and web-cleaning sectors, and we are also constantly looking to explore new markets both in the UK and mainland Europe. Over the past 18 months we have been investing heavily in our premises and our sales structure to ensure we have the right equipment and personnel to service our clients in the various industries we operate in, and we expect to maintain this commitment for many years to come.
Latest additions: the CyClean web cleaner (left) and the AHUv3 regular and compact (right) 22
May 2015
Meech International T: +44 (0)1993 706700
www.meech.com
www.convertermag.co.uk
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