Slitting Machine Upgrades

Its been a busy week so far. Some optimism appears to be returning to the converting world. We have seen a large increase in the sale of upgrade systems. This may have been stimulated by the need to improve the productivity of existing machines as companies hold back from purchasing new machines.

The first step in improving slitting machine productivity and the quality of slit rolls is a machine condition report. One of our engineers uses a structured check list to test all aspects of a slitting machine including bearing conditions, roller coverings, drive set ups with the result being a detailed condition report on your slitter rewinder. On completion, a remedial programme of work is agreed. Where possible, our engineer corrects faults as they are found. Part of this programme can be improved training.

Every week our engineers come across machines which used to run at 450m/min and now operate at 200m/min. This is normal the result of poor maintenance and poor training. To correct this aspects is relatively low cost so the pay back is extremely quick.

Once you slitter rewinder is running at its original speed, you then find that it is stopped for half of its life due to the time required for roll changes and job set ups. We have developed a number of systems that help with both:

• Core alignment system - Computacore (video shown on previous blogs). Reduces core setting time and improves accuracy of positioning.
• Automatic Knife Positioning - Greatly reduces set up time for shear slitting. Systems are also available for razor slitting
• Closed Loop Tension Control - To obtain good quality rolls, you need good tension control. Our Total Tension Control System uses closed loop control of unwind and rewind tensions to give you the ultimate in tension control
• Ball Chuck Differential Shafts. We have fitted these to a wide range of converting machinery including most make of slitting machine. When combined with the core alignment system, set up times are minimised.
• New Drive and Controls. A lot of the older slitting machines were very well built but their control systems are obsolete and lack many of the features of new machines. Adding a new drive and control system onto a slitter rewinder can give it another 20 years of life. We have standard systems for center wind slitters, surface wind slitters, centre surface slitter rewinders and two drum winders.
• ConverterGuide 4 Web Guiding System. Most web guiding systems are complicated to set up and can cause significant down time if not set correctly. Our system is as simple as we could make it yet very fast and precise in operation. If hydraulics are used for the existing system, these can be removed and replaced with an electric actuator. No more drips of hydraulic oil contaminating the material.