Electronics
Paxton's advanced Air Knife Systems provide automated drying solutions for complex medical component manufacturing.
An American medical device manufacturer relied on manual compressed air wands to dry PCBs and perforated polycarbonate components, a labour-intensive process with ergonomic risks for its operators. Paxton engineered an automated system of Stainless Steel Air Knives powered by PX2000 Air Blowers, with noise-reducing enclosures and variable frequency drives, eliminating manual handling and the cost of compressed air.
An American medical device manufacturer relied on manual compressed air wands for drying PCBs and perforated polycarbonate components. Parts were washed on two lines, placed on racks of about 40 and blown off by hand, and the geometry of the perforations made the polycarbonate parts harder to dry. This labour-intensive process created ergonomic issues and inefficient resource allocation.
The labour-intensive manual drying process created ergonomic risks for operators, who moved handheld wands around for hours at a time, while consuming expensive compressed air. Staff deployment was also inefficient, preventing workers from engaging in higher-value production activities.
Paxton engineered a system using Stainless Steel Air Knives powered by PX2000 Air Blowers, replacing manual drying on both lines. The automated solution included noise-reducing Blower Enclosures and variable frequency drives (VFDs), eliminating manual handling while maximising drying efficiency.
The VFDs ramp each blower down to about 10% of full speed when parts are being loaded or unloaded, rather than switching it off, because frequent starting and stopping strains the drive components. The Paxton blowers also use only 20% of the energy an air compressor does.
This installation demonstrates how Paxton’s Air Knife and blower technology eliminates manual handling challenges. Their solution dramatically improved process efficiency while reducing operational costs and improving workplace safety.
Steve Hand Sales Engineer | SolvAir
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Trusted by electronics manufacturers across the globe, SolvAir's Air Knife Systems are proven across the world's most demanding production lines.
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