subject: Why Air Knife Is Essential In The Industrial Sector [print this page] The advent of the Montreal Protocol in the late 80s, which called for the elimination of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) in cleaning agents and other solvents resulted in the shift of manufacturers to water-based solutions such as adhesives, paints, coatings and more. Yet, more than the pro-environment move, which aimed to slow down or prevent the depletion of the ozone layer, the initiative also offered a big boom to the air knife industry.
Nowadays, many industrial applications and processes require air knives which offer varied functions and applications. From printing, to textile, to circuit board industry, air knives are known to have a significant place in one or several processes of these industries.
In production operations for example, air knives which measure 0.25-200 inches long with holes measuring from 0.001-0.25 are needed. Air from industrial blower or compressor are blasted to the numerous slots to exhaust needed air volume and speed.
To do its work, an air knife system uses compressed or pressurized gas to create air curtains which are then used for a variety of operations. These include drying, cleaning and cooling of different surfaces.
Air knives used for cleaning have been a phenomenal alternative for brushes, fabrics and other materials typically used for cleaning. As the tool removes debris and unwanted particles from a product without actual contact, the manufacturer does not have to worry about leaving marks or scrapes on delicate surfaces. Some materials which ca be cleaned using air knives are conveyor belts, printed circuit boards, bottles, cans and sheets.
Aside from being an effective cleaning device, air knives are also proven to provide efficient method of drying products, no matter what their size or shape might be. Products from the textile industry as well as PC boards and other machine parts can be dried using air knives.
Cooling is another function air knife is capable of performing. In some industries, such as the food processing industry, it is most likely impossible to use water or other coolants to preserve products. Air knives are then utilized to provide an anti-static air blanket especially on products which need to maintain their dimensional stability. Compared to traditional compressed air blow off techniques, air knives are more efficient yet, cheaper.
Moreover, because of its multiple functions, air knives have been pertinent in industries such as pharmaceutical, automotive, paper and packaging, as well as in bottling plants, metals and wood factories and food processing plants.
