Stopping Your Production Lines From Stopping

I currently use an adhesive product in my production process, but have to stop every 20 minutes to replace a new roll of material on the line. What can I do to increase my production?

Depending on what type of material you are using, the answer could be simple...spooling.

Spooling is the process of splicing together a series of cut rolls of material and wrapping them together as one reel. Spooled rolls are traversely wound onto one wide core. By creating one reel of material, you are able to decrease your downtime in production.

"Right now, I am spooling a roll of material to 30,000 feet. The results for our customer are quicker production and turnaround times, which ultimately leads to higher margins and more profit," says Finishing Department Team Leader, Kevin Zinn of Budnick Converting, Inc.

Contact a dependable materials converter to see how spooling could be utilized during your current process.

Lathe Slitting

What is lathe slitting?

Lathe slitting is the process of spinning log rolls of material on a mandrel and indexing a single blade to precisely cut to a desired width. Papers, tissues, foams, plastics, films, foils and many other materials can be cut using a lathe slitter. Lathe slitting those materials allows operators to program blade direction, blade speed, mandrel speed and blade sharpening cycles. These specifications are entered into a computer program, which ensures every roll of product is cut precisely to the desired specifications.

Splicing Methods

What are some of the different splicing methods used in the tape converting processes?

There are a few different ways tape converters successfully splice tape products. These include a butt splice, a reinforced under lap splice, a reinforced butt splice and a butt splice top and bottom.

A butt splice is most commonly used with release liners and non-coated paper products. This process places the butt ends of two products closely together and uses a two” strip of splicing tape to create a bond and remove air entrapment. Two pieces of tape can be used when a high tensile strength is required.

A reinforced under lap splice is frequently used when splicing a single coated self wound roll. This method under laps the material from the unwind side approximately three inches underneath the rewind material. The surfaces are rubbed together to remove air entrapment and a two inch strip of silicone adhesive, silicon release splice tape is placed across the top of the exposed edge of material.

A reinforced butt splice is used primarily for double coated tape. This technique butts the unwind and rewind edges of material as close to together as possible and applies a two inch strip of silicone coated, silicone adhesive splicing tape across the top edges. A two inch strip of the double coated product is applied to the bottom edges and the liner is stripped away. This method may also be accomplished by stripping the liner on the unwind side and overlapping adhesive to adhesive, trimming the liner and placing a two inch strip of silicone coated, silicone adhesive across the top of the two liners.

A butt splice top and bottom is used when splicing single coated adhesive lined products. This method butts both materials together and applies a two inch strip of silicone coated, silicone adhesive splice tape to the top and bottom.

To learn more about converting techniques, visit www.budnickconverting.com