Blog

Summer Safely: Keeping Workers Safe

June 23, 2017

Summer officially began this week, which means lots of fun & excitment but also gives rise to special safety concerns unique to the elements of the season. For the next few weeks we'd like to discuss the different ways we can all summer safely, both at home and in the workplace.

Solvent Based Printing 101

June 16, 2017

The key hazard in solvent based printing applications is an explosion from the buildup of solvent vapors in the oven or dryer atmosphere.

This buildup could occur by a malfunction in the production process such as: a sudden or improper amount of coating, a change in ventilation controls or excessive speed. In any of these cases, the concentration of flammable vapor has an opportunity to rise above safe levels, creating a potentially explosive mixture of vapor in air.

An Educated Expansion

June 9, 2017

According to the flexible packaging association, the Flexible Packaging industry is the second largest packaging segment in the USA, with $31.1 billion in sales in the United States in 2014, while directly employing approximately 79 thousand people.

Flexible packaging converters range from small manufacturing companies operating a single facility, to large integrated corporations with up to 34 individual plant locations.

CalorVal BTU Analyzer Brochure

June 2, 2017

We are excited to introduce the CalorVal BTU Analyzer Brochure to our library.

The CalorVal is our micro-combustion calorimeter. Because of its unique construction and operating technology, it is the optimum analyzer for directly measuring the total heating value of varying waste gas streams of industrial processes.

Added Cost Savings Benefit in Coil Coating

May 26, 2017

Fire codes and safety laws limit the maximum solvent concentration allowable to 25% of the LFL under worst case operation. Large volumes of ventilation air must be heated and circulated to keep the solvent vapors in the ovens at safe operating levels.

However, if a flammable vapor analyzer is installed as a safety control, the maximum allowable concentration is 50% of the LFL, which means not as much air has to be heated to dilute the vapors.

5 key reasons to choose PrevEx in Coil Coating

May 19, 2017

For the past few weeks we've talked about the problems that plague the coil coating application, including: maintenance, sensor accuracy, and response time. However, there is a solution to all three.

Coil Coating Problems: Response Time

May 12, 2017

Coil coating line managers report that they experience three basic problems in solvent vapor monitoring, we've discussed the maintenance and accuracy issues, now let's look at response time:

Coil Coating Problems: Sensor Accuracy

May 5, 2017

Coil coating line managers report that they experience three basic problems in solvent vapor monitoring, last week we looked at maintenance issues, this week the focus is on accuracy:

Sensor accuracy is a problem. Because most analyzers have a wide solvent response factor, they must be checked and adjusted whenever there is a change in the solvents or coatings being run.

Coil Coating Problems: Maintenance is burdensome

April 28, 2017

Coil coating line managers report that they experience three basic problems in solvent vapor monitoring, this week let’s address the first one:

Maintenance is burdensome. Sample lines clog, pumps break down, and analyzer elements become fouled - all resulting in excessive labor and costly downtime.

Coil coating ovens typically operate at high temperatures, with some zones at over 800°F. This temperature range is needed to cure organic polymer coatings to their substrate materials.