The issue:

Coating and laminating processes apply thin layers of material to substrates, commonly used in industries like packaging, printing, textiles, and electronics. Static charges on the surface of the processed webs can occur during unwinding, travel over rollers, pressing between nip rolls, or contact with coating rolls. The charges generally will increase with higher web speed, tension, and roller wrap angle; a finer roll surface finish will enhance charging by increasing the area of roll-web contact. Web slippage over roll surfaces, caused by differential web speed or roll malfunction, can also significantly increase charging.

Static charges on a web can result in brush discharges from the web or spark discharges from ungrounded machine components or personnel that become inductively charged as a result of close proximity to the web. Such discharges can present shock hazards to operators or lead to fires in flammable coating operations and gravure printing.

The remedy:

Valstat static ionising bars provide a cloud of positive and negative ions to neutralise static
charges from the fast-moving substrate. Position the Valstat static bars, as shown below.
In the case of solvent-based coating stations, it is mandatory to install Valstat VR20X ATEX
certified ex-proof bars before and after the coating station to prevent a potentially hazardous situation like a spark or fire.

AxisValence offers a range of off-the-shelf and customised electrostatic control products like static eliminators, charging systems, static charge monitoring systems, for industrial applications. Contact us to know more.