Static control and web cleaning are critical to high-quality package printing.

By Tom Polischuk

“All electrical ionizers will attract dirt and dust to their ionizing points,” notes Greg Gumkowski, director of sales and marketing for NRD LLC. “If not cleaned on a periodic basis, this will cause the ionizer to operate inefficiently, drawing more power and reducing its effectiveness.”

Jay Perry, marketing manager for SIMCO Industrial Static Control, expands on this point and offers some practical advice. “Maintenance of the ionizer involves keeping the emitter points clean (free of debris) and dry. The points can be cleaned using compressed air or a soft brush. As odd as it may sound, a pencil eraser can also be used because the abrasive texture of the rubber aids in maintaining the sharpness of the point, which helps the efficiency of ionizer.”