Product category:
Electrostatics, lightning and earthing
News Release from: Meech International | Subject: Model 915 AC
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 07 September 2006
Meech solves an egg direct printing
problem
High speed printing of date codes onto eggs in plastic trays produced static, attracting dust onto the printer: Meech static elimination bars stopped hold-ups for cleaning, and improved print quality
Belview Eggs is one of Ireland's major egg producers and packers The company, based in Drogheda, Co Louth produces over 360,000 eggs per week and has been approved by the Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme (EQAS)
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 9 Oct 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
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This means that the eggs are produced and packed in accordance with the requirements of the code and are authorised to carry the Quality Assured logo.
Before packing, the eggs are graded and it is then a legal requirement that information such as 'best before' date, farmers' code with house number and the packer's ID is printed onto the eggs.
The eggs are graded using a Moba Omnia 85 grading machine, and then pass an inkjet print head that prints the relevant details onto the eggs, including the Quality Assured logo.
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The eggs themselves are carried past the printer in plastic holders and the speed at which they are moved creates a static charge.
This charge results in contamination build up on the printer head as the static causes dust attraction.
As the dirt builds up, then the quality of print starts to deteriorate and the machine has to be stopped and cleaned.
"It was getting to the stage where we were stopping the machine 3-4 times a day to manually clean the printer head" explains Dermot Herlihy, owner of Belview Eggs: "It was seriously affecting productivity as the grader and the printer have to be stopped resulting in downtime and lost production.
We knew we needed to get rid of the static".
It was then that help came via McConnells, a Dublin-based company, with close links to static control specialists, Meech International.
"The solution was fairly straightforward" says Tennant McConnell: "Meech manufactures a range of highly-effective static control solutions and by simply installing a water resistant Model 915 AC system by the printer head, the problem was solved".
The Model 915 AC system comprises a static elimination bar powered by a Meech 904 power unit.
The Model 915 has been designed to provide powerful and intense ion production.
It has very fast decay times which means it is extremely effective at high processing rate fast speeds.
It can be fitted at distances up to 150mm and with its slim profile, it offers both flexibility and versatility in positioning.
Perfect for Belview's application.
Designed with an easy wipe casing, it gives sustained performance, as well as ease of maintenance.
"We have been delighted with the results" says Dermot: "Not only have we substantially improved productivity, but the quality of the print on our eggs is first class". Request a free brochure from Meech International ...
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