Product category:
Thermal processing equipment (drying, curing, etc)
News Release from: Meech International | Subject: JetStream air knife drying system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 05 November 2007
Air knife system cuts drying time
Air knife system produces a higher quality plastics mesh product than before, and as the product is completely dry, the user is now able to provide an accurate product weight.
For over 30 years, Boddingtons has been manufacturing and selling specialised extruded plastics mesh, nets and thermoplastics films for a wide range of industries and markets including civil engineering, horticulture, landscaping and construction Offering a wide range of bespoke high density polyethylene or polypropylene plastic mesh and low density polyethylene tape products, Boddingtons' engineers are always looking at ways to improve their processes
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 4 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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While working on the development of a new fine mesh product, Jeremy Bond, senior project engineer, examined Boddingtons' novel thermoplastics extrusion process.
He realised that there was scope to improve the drying method used after the plastics mesh was cooled in water.
As finer mesh was produced, the existing method was unable to remove all the water, resulting in quality issues for the actual product as well as causing a wet factory floor.
Bond looked at other drying systems and contacted Meech International to discuss how the company's JetStream air knife drying system could help solve their problem.
Bond said: "I was delighted to hear that it was a standard application for the Meech engineers.
Meech came back with a number of options and we found the perfect solution".
The JetStream system uses a blower unit to deliver high-pressure air through ducting to the air knives.
The air knives discharge air at around 100m/s, to give an energy efficient drying system.
At Boddingtons, said Meech in a report to manufacturingtalk.com, two air knives are installed on the extrusion line, above and below the mesh.
The blower unit is installed behind the extruder.
This system provides a reliable and controlled way of completely drying the fine mesh.
"We have been really pleased with the results from using JetStream.
Not only does it produce a higher quality product than before, but as it is completely dry, we are also able to provide an accurate product weight.
From a health and safety point of view, installation of the JetStream has meant no more wet floors therefore reducing the chance of slippage and its incredibly quiet blower unit means we have no noise regulation problems either," concluded Jeremy.
Jetstream is installed throughout the world to remove surface moisture in a wide range of industries including beverage, fresh produce and automotive. Request a free brochure from Meech International ...
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