With production equipment under increased pressure to meet the higher demand for printed packaging caused by the coronavirus pandemic, web treatment specialist Vetaphone has advised the importance of full and proper maintenance of surface treatment technology.

Specifically, corona treaters work best if they are correctly and regularly maintained, according to Steen Clausen, customer support engineer at Vetaphone.

‘But it’s not quite as simple as that,’ noted Mr Clausen. ‘The level, type and frequency of maintenance can vary significantly from one customer to another depending on a variety of factors, including the substrate being treated, the degree of usage, and the production environment.’

Vetaphone has identified five main points that need to be factored into production maintenance schedules:

Regular inspection at intervals of no more than two weeks; if the plant is running 24/7, you may need to increase the frequency of these inspections;

Taking care of the electrodes, which need cleaning on a regular basis to continue to perform at maximum output so any deposit build-up should be carefully removed; in addition, check that they are all working, and if there is a failure, replace the faulty electrode with a new one so that the system can operate at full power;

Check the inside of the unit for carbon build-up, which is a fire risk that can be easily prevented; look for burn or scorch marks on the side plates and clean off the deposit before it becomes a hazard;

Check the air gap between the electrodes and the substrate, which is set at installation to achieve an even spread of power for optimal performance; the gap can begin to open or close through usage and the result will be inconsistent performance and poor quality treatment; and

Make sure the ozone exhaust system is operating as it should, specifically ensuring that it is kept free from any blockage.

‘If there is a problem that you cannot solve yourself, don’t hesitate to contact the Vetaphone support team,’ added Mr Clausen. ‘We are set up to do remote diagnosis and offer online assistance with all Vetaphone equipment, wherever you are located.’

Read more about surface treatment and preparation in the March/April issue of Digital Labels & Packaging, and online here