Knowing what the tension actually is at various key points in a paper process line is fundamental to ensuring high quality and efficient operations. Web tension measurement and control are equally important in converting as well as film, foil, textile and non-woven manufacturing.
Essentially it is the ability to control the mechanical tension in any material being processed at any point in the process phase while it is accelerating at constant speed or decelerating. It is required in any web handling and converting machinery in order to achieve production with both high and consistent quality, high productivity with the minimum of unscheduled production stops and to increase the machine speed.
Important requirements for reliable web tension measurement and control include long-term stable sensitivity, robust construction in order to withstand real production environments, recalibration-free load cells minimising maintenance costs and ease of use to minimise the time needed for set-up and commissioning.
Improved productivity
Web tension as a process value is measured and controlled to protect machines and leads to improved productivity and product quality. Tension that is too high can cause damage to deflector rolls and roll bearings resulting in unplanned machine stops through stretching of the web, change in the width and ultimately snapping of the web. On the other hand, too low tension often results in defects including web wrinkles where the web is not stretched sufficiently over deflector rolls and poor reel quality that causes ongoing problems in the follow on processes and the possibility of telescoped reels.
Unstable tension is caused by length and width variations in slitters and sheeters or curled material in laminating processes. ABB provides high performance systems based on Pressductor technology giving superior tension measuring options and performance. To enhance its advantages an updated series of digital tension electronics, the PFEA11X series, has been released.
Accurate and reliable
The ABB Pressductor load cells are widely used by the major paper producers in South Africa. Customers have expressed total confidence in the performance of the load cells which gives them the peace of mind of knowing how the lines are running at any given time. Many have replaced competitor’s systems with the ABB solution because of the advantages including the fact that the load cells are designed to be installed and left alone to do their job. After two years they are still performing faultlessly and further installations are planned.
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