Static Control & Web Cleaning Cleaning up with narrow web packaging


By Andy Clarke, european operations director, MA Print Products (MAPP)


N


arrow web presses today can handle a wide variety of materials and produce a broad range of packaging formats. This is presenting printers with a huge


array of profi t making opportunities, as well as creating converting challenges.


Chief amongst the challenges is web cleaning, as each material type, print process and end use has specifi c challenges. This makes it critical to be aware of the importance of maintaining clean surfaces, regardless of if you’re using a narrow web press to convert labels, print fl exible packaging or manufacture folding cartons. Cleaning systems come in two forms: contact and non-contact. While non-contact systems provide several benefi ts for various materials and printing applications, particularly heavily soiled and especially delicate surfaces, contact cleaning systems provide many of the capabilities required by narrow web converters: high cleaning effi ciency, static elimination, broad material suitability and seamless integration into existing production lines.


Label printers can choose to clean the top side or both sides of a web, depending on the application. For instance, a roll of material that is destined to come into contact with a bottle, jar or other vessel renders cleaning both sides of a web largely unnecessary, even when rewound and the risk of contaminants transferring from one side of the web to the other is present.


However, when producing shrink sleeves or printing fl exible packaging, it is something that should not be overlooked in order to ensure packaging and product integrity. In packaging, a contaminated reverse side


has potentially serious implications that directly relate to product integrity and consumer health, not to mention the impact to onward processes and an increase in waste produced. This makes cleaning both sides of the material imperative, as contaminated surfaces cause problems throughout the production of fl exible packaging constructions and result in poor print quality, subpar coating and lamination, and in some cases, machine breakdowns.


This makes it advisable to use web cleaning systems that address both sides of a web. By doing so label printers are doing everything in


their power to mitigate such risks and maintain a fully clean and ultimately usable web of material, whether rewound or fed immediately into converting lines.


For folding cartons, contact cleaning eff ectively removes dust and debris from the printable surface. This makes the quality and performance of adhesive rolls in an elastomer-based cleaning system vital. Adhesive rolls with a high adhesive coat weight that are manufactured from a carefully selected paper base and tested for thickness, consistency and profi le ensure consistent performance. MA Print Products’ adhesive rolls are also made using paper that is highly moisture resistant to ensure stability during transit, storage and use. A specially formulated adhesive works with all elastomer roller-based contact cleaning systems.


Adhesive rolls from MA Print Products are available from 120mm up to 1500mm in width and have 70 perforated, removable sheets with a high adhesive mass for maximum cleaning performance, at two to three times the eff ectiveness of competitive products. For all converters, the need to clean webs comes down to an evaluation of risk. Keep in mind that not properly cleaning surfaces can result in costly production delays and machine downtime, as well as potentially serious consequences for consumers buying and eating packaged foodstuff s.


A trusted supplier such as MA Print Products is able to advise on specifi c needs, provide the solution suited to any printer’s production, and help converters sidestep the consequences of improper surface cleaning and contamination.


36


November 2025


www.convertermag.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46