“My pressure-sensitive Teflon PTFE welding tape is not sticking.”

If this sounds like you, then keep reading! Englewood Industrial Solutions, a top-rated supplier of Teflon tape, is here to help eliminate this problem not only with our best Teflon tape, including PTFE welding tape, but also with the tips below. Keep reading, and check out our Teflon tape today!

Why Clean Equipment Matters

Cleaning equipment before applying Teflon tape is essential because it removes any dirt, debris, oil, or grease that may be present on the surface. These contaminants can prevent the tape from adhering effectively and may even compromise the integrity of the connection. Proper cleaning ensures a clean and smooth surface, allowing the tape to create a tight seal and prevent leaks.

Cleaning Heat Plates

The most common cause of the welding paper not sticking is adhesive residue on the welding plate. Silicone adhesive will break down with the heat over time leaving behind a white powder residue on the bare metal. New silicone adhesive will not stick properly to this residue and must be cleaned completely to allow new pressure sensitive silicone adhesive to adhere the PTFE to the welding platen.

Proper Cleaning Techniques

One of our top recommended options for cleaning your equipment before applying Teflon tape is: 

Use 3M Adhesive Remover Citrus Base #6041. That being said, CHECK LOCAL RESTRICTIONS ON VOC CONTENT REGULATIONS, especially OSHA. 

• Make sure the heat plate is cool with the room temperature at 100°F
• Use a drop cloth under the heat plate to protect the floor.  Residue from plate mixing with PVC floor dust is not an optimal situation.
• Apply a liberal amount of remover to top to bottom, let sit for approximately 30 seconds, use squeegee to remove, wipe access with cloth, and repeat as necessary.
• You will feel a difference in the smoothness of the heat plate.
• Now there are other Adhesive Removers with Low VOC and meet standards acceptable for use, but they may not be as effective as Citrus base and ISO.

Another great cleaning technique involves: 

• 90% Isopropyl Alcohol 
• Mix with water a ratio of 2 to 1 of alcohol to water
• Use the same method as above

In both techniques, you’ll want to allow the equipment to air dry completely before applying the Teflon tape. This ensures that any remaining moisture evaporates, preventing interference with the tape’s adhesive properties.

Our team believes that not performing the above cleaning procedure will hinder the adhesive’s ability to adhere to the plate. Scraping off with just a putty knife or other utensil does not remove the crystalized adhesive residue on the plate not readily visible by eye.

Precautions to Consider

While cleaning equipment prior to applying Teflon tape is important, it’s essential to follow a few precautions for optimal results:

• Ensure the equipment is completely switched off and disconnected from any power source before cleaning.
• Avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools that may damage the equipment’s surface.
• Take care not to splash cleaning solvent onto electrical components or sensitive areas.
• Allow ample time for the equipment to dry completely to avoid trapping moisture beneath the Teflon tape.

By following these proper cleaning techniques, you can ensure that the surface of your equipment is free from contaminants and ready for the application of Teflon tape. This extra step will help you achieve a tight and reliable seal, preventing leaks and ensuring a successful connection.

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Proper cleaning of equipment prior to applying Teflon tape is crucial for achieving a secure and leak-free connection. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can effectively remove any dirt, debris, oil, or grease from the equipment, ensuring optimal performance. Remember to take necessary precautions and allow ample drying time for the best results.

Englewood Industrial Solutions offers a comprehensive selection of Teflon tapes, including PTFE Heat Resistant Tapes and PTFE Zone Tape. Our products are engineered to meet diverse sealing and insulation needs, providing exceptional heat resistance, non-stick properties, electrical insulation, and precise zone-focused sealing. Trust our industrial and Teflon tape supply company for superior Teflon tape solutions and reliable customer service. Get started today!

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In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about SpecTape’s line of products, including their many applications and the advantages. Whether you are looking for industrial masking tapes, flatback and splicing tapes, packaging tapes, filament tapes, duct tapes, or double-coated tapes, we have a tape solution for you!

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The use of Scapa Exafit HP can simplify the flexographic printing process and help ensure the final results are always up to par. When you partner with Englewood Industrial Solutions, we ensure you will receive the highest quality industrial tapes to further your bottom line. By using Scapa Exafit HP, you can save time and money, and get the best possible outcome for your flexographic printing runs.   Contact us  today to learn more about Scapa Exafit HP.

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We have been in the industry for more than 70 years, and have weathered many storms in this industry. You can trust Englewood Industrial Solutions to handle all of your supply chain needs. Contact us today to get started.

Trust Englewood Industrial Solutions

Trust Englewood Industrial Solutions to handle all of your supply chain needs and take your business to the next level. We have the tape you need for any application, and if you’re unsure of what you need, we’re here to help. Don’t let supply chain issues hold you back — it’s time for a fresh approach with Englewood Industrial Solutions.

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When it comes to flexographic printing, selecting the best sticky back can make all the difference. Read on for some advice and reach out to us at Englewood Industrial Solutions for help in finding the perfect tape for your flexo printing operation.

Efficiency

When it comes to flexo printing, and most things in life for that matter, efficiency is key. An efficient flexo printing process leads to less waste and ultimately lower operation costs. A good, quality sticky back is efficient and minimizes wasted time. You want your tape to be as consistent as possible so you can spend time focusing on other aspects of the printing process. The right plate mount tape makes it easier for you to address other variables within the printing process.

Adhesive Performance/Balance

Your first instinct may be that the adhesive needs to be as sticky as possible. However, this isn’t actually the case. Sticky back needs to be strong enough to secure the mounting plates, but not so strong that the plates tear or are difficult to remove. Good flexo printing tape is designed with enough adhesive to hold the plate down and prevent edge lift while also being low tack for easy repositioning.

Ease-of-Use

The most perfect, highest-quality of tape in the world won’t do you much good if it isn’t easy to use. At Englewood Industrial Solutions, we believe that the best plate mount tape is quick and easy to select. We believe that because our tape has an advanced foam structure which allows for consistency across the printing process.

Value

Finally, selecting the right flexo printing tape will add value to your overall printing process. Consistent, quality sticky back will enable you to reduce your inventory, prevent confusion, lower variability, and improve your bottom line. The more consistent and more broadly applicable your tape is from print to print, the more valuable it is to your operation.

Are you searching for a good sticky back for flexographic printing? Englewood Industrial Solutions has the right tape for your needs. Our plate mount tape has the perfect adhesive balance, is consistent, widely applicable, and competitively priced. Reach out today to get started.

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Today’s modern flexographic printing processes require meticulous attention to a wide range of variables. There are some simple steps you can take to improve the efficiency and accuracy of your flexographic printing. Continue reading to learn more!

At Englewood Industrial Solutions, we help businesses throughout America improve their production processes by helping them analyze their usage of tape and recommending the most appropriate pressure sensitive tape for each part in their production applications. One of the industries we have extensive experience in is flexographic printing, which involves substrates such as corrugated cardboard, plastic, metallic film, and label stock.

In today’s blog, we’d like to share with you a few simple tips and things to consider about your flexographic printing that will make it more efficient and reduce waste.

For guidance on your business’s specific situation, connect with one of our industrial tape experts today to start the conversation! Until then, let’s dive into a few best practices for high-quality, cost-effective flexographic printing.

Simple Is Better

When it comes to selecting plate mounting or sticky back tapes, it’s normally best to stick to the simplest solution. There are many options when it comes to selecting plate mounting or sticky back tapes. Today’s flexographic printing technology is rapidly advancing, and with that comes a wide array of variables to account for on a press machine. Plate mounting tapes do not have to be one of them. Instead of spending hours evaluating the specifications of various brands of tape, we suggest that you simplify the process by focusing on the proper foam density of the mounting tape with the goal of establishing a consistent, dependable foundation for your printing plate.

For instance, we often recommend Scapa products that perform well over a broader range of printing variables than other brands. This means fewer tape variables to meet all your printing requirements.

Exafit HP® is the reliable option, offering excellent printing definition and dependable resilience to absorb machine vibration and tolerance. It’s PP embossed surface of the liner also helps reduce air bubbles and aids in the removal and repositioning of mounting plates. It’s offered in 3 densities (soft, medium and hard) of foam for 15 mil plate mounting tape, 5 densities for 20 mil tape and 2 levels of adhesive to best suit your specific print process needs.

Keep Surfaces Clean

Another issue that is often overlooked in the flexographic printing process is the proper routine cleaning of printing plates and cylinders. We’ve found that despite new advances in print plate making technology the cleaning of Anilox rollers, sleeves, and plates remains an issue. Many of our clients overlook this basic housekeeping task — and it can have a significant effect on the quality of your prints and the efficiency of your operation.

Fingerprints are a sign that your company has room to grow in terms of improving your flexographic printing process. We’re not talking about fingerprinting in the proofing process. We’re referring to actual fingerprints on the edges of plates and cylinders that can affect print quality, and the ability of your tape to hold a precise seal without air bubbles or other issues. Proper cleaning is essential to keeping your flexographic printing operation running smoothly, and yet when we look at photos of plate mounting tape tests, it becomes clear that this basic task is unfortunately not always taken seriously.

When cleaning your plates and cylinders, we recommend using IPA as your solvent. You can use ethanol but, only on the front of the plates. When ethanol is used to clean the backs of a plate, it can increase its adhesive properties and make removing and repositioning the plate more difficult.

We hope this brief discussion can help you improve the flexographic printing process. If you have specific questions or would like more suggestions for increasing the efficiency of your operation, reach out to the industrial tape experts at Englewood Industrial Solutions today!

The post Tips & Tricks For Successful, Reliable Flexographic Printing appeared first on Englewood Industrial Solutions.

At Englewood Industrial Solutions, we help companies across America optimize their production processes, cut waste and inefficiency, and boost their bottom line by putting our decades of experience in tapes and adhesives to work. We help businesses identify the most effective kinds of tape and adhesives for their specific applications. In the aftermath of the Texas winter storm, we’re helping companies adjust to changing conditions in the tape and adhesive industry. In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing exactly what’s going on in the industry, how it stands to impact your business operations, and what you can do to respond. Keep reading to learn how we can help you manage the upcoming changes!

What’s Happened

Several of the leading tape and adhesive manufacturers in America purchase their raw materials from production facilities in Texas, and many of these facilities endured significant damage from the winter storm that ravaged the state. As a result, the supply of tape and adhesive products is anticipated to be significantly impacted, and the prices of tape and adhesive products are expected to increase as a result of this significant reduction of supply. 

How Tape Production Slowdown Stands To Impact Your Business

The state of tape and adhesive supplies moving forward, for the foreseeable future, isn’t going to be a toilet-paper-in-quarantine situation of regular shortages, but your company should expect to see higher prices for the tape and adhesive products you use regularly in production. Tape and adhesive production facilities are expected to be impacted for some time as producers of these raw materials adjust to make the repairs needed to get production back up to full strength. Your company should plan to account for this change in your materials budget for at least the next fiscal year.

How You Can Adjust

Amidst this period of change, there’s a silver lining to this — this situation underscores the importance of choosing the right kind of tape for your company’s specific needs, not just the cheapest tape available. It’s the perfect time to move beyond the strategy of simply seeking out the lowest-priced tape and evaluate your production processes. For instance, how much is it costing you to do business the way you are now? How much money are you losing to waste or inefficiency that could be saved with an adhesive solution better fit to your team’s specific needs? Tape is far more than the sticker price, and taking the time to find the right tape solution for your company’s purposes will save you far more money over the long term than simple bargain hunting.  

Find The Right Tape For Your Needs Today

Not sure where to begin? Englewood Industrial Solutions is here to help. Proactively respond to rising material costs by leveraging our expertise to invest smarter in tape and adhesive products for your company. Connect with our team today — we’ll help you find a solution.

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