ShearClean™ – non-contact system is the latest addition to the Witney, UK manufacturer’s line-up of web cleaning systems and is suitable for sectors ranging from narrow web label printing (litho, gravure, flexo) and converting to food packaging and pharmaceutical applications.
The addition of ShearClean™ to the Meech range opens up a whole new range of applications where contact cleaning systems may not be the method of choice. Examples might include scratch-prone finishes, substrates featuring special coatings or decorative labels destined for premium consumer goods.
ShearClean’s™ principle of operation is unique in the markets we are targeting and we believe its ease of installation, its effectiveness in removing dust and debris from an extensive range of materials and its low running costs, will make it attractive to companies operating in a variety of markets who are looking to improve the productivity and quality of their lines. Indeed, pre-launch trials have shown extremely encouraging results.
ShearClean™ can be supplied to match any reel width up to 1.8 metres and equipment speeds of up to 1,000 metres per minute. The system simultaneously cleans both sides of the web and can be used with materials as diverse as paper or film. Printers wanting to remove debris from the web prior to printing could fit ShearClean™ before the first unit, while pre-printed reels could be cleaned before packaging.
ShearClean™ incorporates two cotton-covered rollers, which are positioned 1 mm either side of the web. The rollers spin at high speed – up to 6,000 RPM in the opposite direction to that of the web and the air currents generated break up the boundary layer on the surface of the web, allowing the highly effective vacuum system to remove particles that were held in that layer.
ShearClean™ can be tailored to suit customers’ requirements not just in terms of size but also in sophistication. For instance, Meech can provide various control upgrades to create a fully programmable unit. The company has also made use of its expertise in static control and has incorporated static elimination equipment into ShearClean™, which significantly improves the effectiveness of the cleaning process.