SubscribeThrough their continuous development process and strong focus on innovation, National Starch & Chemical has once again brought innovation to the Global Packaging market, this time with a piece of equipment.
Two years ago they successfully launched their 3D Melt Tank Loader, an autofil system that is proven to transform any hot melt Package-sealing operation.
Here at National we believe that supplying our customers with just glue is not enough. By talking to our customers and understanding what is important to them, we have been able to develop solutions that satisfy their current and future needs. Through our experience we realised that no matter what a customer was producing, they wanted to produce their product efficiently and safely.
The 3D Melt Tank Loader
The 3D Melt Tank Loader is an enclosed system that automatically transfers the hot melt pastilles from a bulk container or COOL-bin directly into the hot melt applicator. The combination of the closed system and the automation produces a wide range of benefits, and once a customer has installed even one system, they ask for systems for all their production lines. So what does the 3D Melt Tank Loader do to a production operation?
Improved Production Efficiency
The enclosed system automatically tops up the adhesive little and often. This ensures the correct application temperature is consistently maintained, and it eliminates the thermal shock caused by adding a large amount of cold adhesive. Both these factors result in a cleaner, consistent adhesive jet, thereby improving the quality of the bond. The efficiencies of the production lines increase, as the engineers no longer have to stop production to replace blocked nozzles or filters every shift. Customers who have installed 3D Melt Tank Loader have seen their nozzle blocking problem eliminated. Customers have made savings in the cost of spare parts and the man-hours spent changing nozzles and filters.
Improved Housekeeping
Effectively the 3D system creates a sealed system, closed to the atmosphere, which reduces the contamination risk from board dust and the customer's product when filling the tanks. These external contaminants affect the efficiencies of the adhesive jetting equipment and subsequently the bonding performance. Once a 3D Melt Tank Loader has been fitted there has been no contamination, resulting in clean applicator tanks and consistent jetting performance. Also, the area directly around the hot melt applicator is much cleaner as adhesive pastilles are not spilt as the tanks are topped up.
Improved Operator Safety
Safety is of at least equal importance to production objectives, if not higher. Many companies carry out regular safety audits and the hot melt applicator area is usually classed as high risk in two areas. The operators need to open the applicator tank to top up the adhesive, exposing themselves to the risk of glue splashes. And the engineers need to get inside the machines to change a blocked nozzle for a new one. The 3D Melt Tank Loader closes the system eliminating the risk from adhesive splashes and nozzles changes can reduce from one or two a shift to none in three months. Customers with a 3D Melt Tank Loader have reduced the hazard classification of the hot melt application area from high risk to low risk.
Saving Time
Once a 3D Melt Tank Loader has been installed, the operator's time is released, enabling him to focus on more important issues, such as producing consistent quality product. Instead of manually refilling the hot melt applicator four or more times an hour, the Operator needs to fill the large COOL-bin with adhesive at the start of each shift and then they can forget about the hot melt application. Their time is freed up to focus on more important production requirements.
The 3D Melt Tank Loader brings many to customers, how many depends on their current operation. However, the 3D Melt Tank Loaders ensures all customers can produce their product efficiently and safely.