Sustainable Converting
Automated waste and dust extraction enhances productivity
F
or modern high-speed, high quality print and converting machines to operate efficiently
and provide a fast return on investment, efficient waste removal and effective dust control is essential. Impact Air Systems works closely with
manufacturers of modern high speed print and converting machines to ensure waste is continually removed as it is produced and also all dust control measures are adhered too, ensuring high production rates of quality printed board. Effective waste removal can prove a challenge and often requires integrating low level belt or air conveyors beneath the stripping sections to deliver the production waste external to the machine, where it can be more easily removed by a waste extraction system. Impact Air Systems has developed a range of waste handling equipment, which combined with the company’s system designs can be adapted to suit specific requirements. It takes pride in being able to offer very experienced engineers, who have vast industry experience and find it second nature to liaise between customers and the machine manufacturers, to provide effective solutions. With increasing demand on print
quality, the requirement to reduce the concentration of airborne dust within the production area, also in-line with best practice techniques, has never been more important. With most high-speed machines using vacuum for board transfer, the integral fan units consequently discharge the air generated outboard of the machines, which requires removal by independent means. As this air will typically contain a concentration of dust, it requires removal by a dust control plant specifically designed with the correct air volume and pressure characteristics to ensure integration with the machine operation. All Impact dust control systems are compliant with the latest LEV, COSHH and ATEX legislations to meet health and safety requirements. The problem of waste trim is well known,
having to stop the converting machine to take away the off cut material, and transfer to a skip or alternative storage method for disposal, causes costly and unnecessary downtime. The effect on production eficiency and quality can be equally as severe with dust control issues, resulting in ‘hickeys’ on high quality runs as well as an unsuitable working environment. The eventual outcome is that the
modern high-speed print and converting requirement for automatic waste and dust extraction is essential. The main advantage of such a system is simply that the presses are no longer slowed down by the necessity of handling waste, but the systems also reduce health, safety and fire risks, and improve the working environment. Paper and cardboard packaging manufacturing creates a huge amount of dust, therefore using a pneumatic conveying solution will ensure dust and edge trim is removed from the press environment and transferred to compactors or balers for recycling, without operator involvement. Recently, a tissue
manufacturer invested in a paper trim, paper dust and plastic edge trim extraction system at a site in North Wales. The installation serves
36 July/August 2017
five converting machines and a paper re- winder. The return is immediate with continuous operations and minimal system management due to the automated system. Impact Air Systems has been installing
systems that provide this eficiency for over 30 years, at numerous sites in the UK and around the world. Impact has recently installed edge trim extraction systems and dust control systems at the UK sites of corrugated packaging producer, Rigid Containers, situated at Desborough, Wellington and Selby. Les Swanick, site director, Rigid’s
Desborough site, comments: “An efficient off cut removal system is essential in a fast turnaround production environment and to maintain our high manufacturing levels. The installation of the trim extraction systems caused minimal disruptions to our manufacturing site and we were pleased with the service we received. As one of the largest independent integrated corrugated manufacturers in the UK, reducing downtime is a necessary and vital part of our manufacturing strategy.” Impact endeavours to support operators whose processes produce recyclable material, not only by extracting trim materials at the source, but also by working with waste management companies to ensure the extracted resource is recycled or reused in a continuing drive to support the circular economy.
www.impactairsystems.com www.convertermag.co.uk
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