Web Cleaning for Medical Equipment manufacturing
Web cleaning is crucial in the production of medical equipment for several reasons. In this industry, precision and cleanliness are paramount to ensure the quality and safety of medical devices and components used in healthcare settings.
The main contaminants present in the production and packaging of medical equipment, such as dust, fibers or any other particles, can compromise the functionality and integrity of sensitive medical equipment.
Web cleaning helps maintain a pristine manufacturing environment, reducing the risk of defects and ensuring that medical devices and products meet the stringent standards required for healthcare applications. Additionally, it supports compliance with regulatory requirements, contributing to the overall reliability and performance of medical equipment.
Why is web cleaning important in the medical equipment industry?
Due to the existing hygiene regulations, legal requirements and generally high standards, pharmaceutical and medical industrial manufacturing in all areas is already “clean” per se and kept in clean room production conditions.
Pharmaceutical products and medicines in general are expected to be 100% clean, hygienic and safe, especially when it comes to the treatment of critical diseases to prevent any kind of cross-infection and overall patient safety. Any dust particles, foreign bodies or contaminants that are harmful to the body must be removed from the packaging as they can cause further problems for patients.
There is always a risk of residual dust, for example due to environmental conditions to which the stored plastic rolls are exposed. This might cause dust particles to be deposited between the layers of the rolled material – a situation we want to avoid at all costs.
Dangerous and thus unwanted contamination due to static loading or environmental conditions will happen with great probability during the following process steps:
- Winding
- Unwinding
- Cutting
- Slitting
- Scoring
The side effects of dust or particle deposit are not to be underestimated: What seems like a minor detail might lead to health hazards for the end consumer. Dangers stemming from a not properly cleaned web might include poor bonding of plastic layers, leading to contamination, or on the printing side, poor printing quality. Improperly printed QR or EAN Codes or package inserts might lead to complaints or even legal consequences further down the line. These threats can all be mitigated by a properly set up web cleaning system.
In summary, web cleaning is integral to the medical industry as it safeguards product quality, patient safety, and regulatory compliance. It is a proactive measure to ensure that medical devices and components meet the rigorous standards demanded by the healthcare sector.
Benefits of using web cleaning in the medical equipment industry
Quality Assurance
Medical devices and components often require a high level of precision and cleanliness. Contaminants such as particles, dust, or fibers can adversely affect the functionality and safety of these devices. Web cleaning ensures that manufacturing processes maintain a sterile environment, reducing the risk of defects and ensuring the reliability of medical equipment.
Compliance with Regulatory Standards
The medical industry is highly regulated, with strict standards for cleanliness and quality control. Web cleaning is essential to meet and exceed these regulatory requirements. It helps manufacturers adhere to industry standards, certifications, and guidelines, ensuring that medical products are produced in compliance with regulatory expectations.
Patient Safety
Medical devices directly impact patient health and safety. Any contamination or defects in these devices can have serious consequences. Web cleaning contributes to the production of uncontaminated and defect-free medical components, reducing the risk of adverse events and ensuring the safety of patients relying on these devices.
Reliability of Diagnostic Equipment
In medical diagnostics, precision is crucial for accurate test results. Contaminants on materials used in diagnostic equipment can interfere with the accuracy of tests. Web cleaning plays a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness of surfaces, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of diagnostic tools.
Product Longevity
Medical equipment often has a long lifespan, and durability is crucial. Contaminants can contribute to wear and tear over time, affecting the longevity of medical devices. Web cleaning helps preserve the quality and lifespan of these products by preventing the accumulation of particles that could lead to deterioration.
Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
Ensuring a clean production process through web cleaning reduces the likelihood of defects and the need for rework. This, in turn, enhances efficiency and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing. Fewer defects mean less material waste, lower production costs, and a more streamlined manufacturing process.
Our experts will be happy to help you.
Contact us!
Looking for a web cleaning solution to improve your production and save costs?
Feel free to give us more details about your Application, Material, Dust type(s), Web width (mm) and Web speed (m/min), so that we then can already take your information into account when contacting you.
Contact usSuggested non-contact web cleaning models
We at KELVA strive to be the leading experts for web cleaning in the medical equipment production industry. Thus, we suggest our line of Non-Contact Web Cleaners such as the KELVA BR-, TL/SL-, HS-, ST-series. Discover our selection of non-contact web cleaners on our product pages.
KELVA SL/TL Series
For web width up to 2000 mm with special air handling options and ideal for higher dust loads.
KELVA TLX/HS/ST Series
For wide and very wide web width up to 10’000 mm and flexibly configurable to special applications and high dust loads like in corrugated and tissue production.
Best products for web cleaning in medical equipment production
In medical equipment production, both contact and non-contact web cleaning are used.
Contact cleaning is used for narrow film-, foil- and plastic material webs. That way, almost 100% of any contamination, mostly dust, will be eliminated due to the direct contact of the cleaning adhesive rollers, which can take off everything from the web surface. Contact cleaning is ideal for narrow web and high web tensions, where the adhesive rollers can touch smoothly the surface running through.
When it comes to mid- and wide web application, non-contact cleaning technology might be the right choice, as the web tension, web speed and the web width can be taken into account. Non-contact cleaning systems can handle the wide webs, and can be adapted to varying web speeds, and because of non-contact, web tension is less critical.
KELVA features the Web Cleaning Systems for cleaner medical packaging. The system neutralizes static and vacuums away dust particles on surfaces ranging in width from (this many)” to (that many)” – and even beyond that in specific installations.
The KELVA CleanflowSystem first neutralizes static charges on the web, then blows an airflow towards the surface, causing dust and dirt particles to loosen from the material. Entering the vacuum slot, the dust and dirt particles pass through a filter system. This eliminates the threat of recontamination of the surface and surrounding atmosphere.
Choosing the appropriate web cleaning systems is crucial to elevate the production of medical equipment and ensure the quality of the final products. Considerations in this decision-making process encompass the variety of materials used, the sensitivity of these materials, the frequency of production changes, web dimensions, speed, tension, and an evaluation of the dust concentration at process interfaces and within the working environment.
contact
Our experts will be happy to help you. Get in touch with us!