The manufacturing process is long and laborious at times. Manufacturers love to find shortcuts that can boost productivity on the assembly line. They found that and more through the creation of the air knife.
Before products such as the air knife hit the market, manufacturers had to use solvents and other chemicals to clean the products they were making. The solvents had a great quality to them which was that they would evaporate quickly and leave the product dry, meaning a separate drying process wasn’t needed. But, research showed that using these products was harmful to the environment, so water-based products were used as an alternative.
However, using water-based products meant adding a drying process which ultimately required more time and labour. Thus, air knives came into the picture.
The air knife drying system gave manufacturers an alternative to suffering through lengthy drying processes. But, that wasn’t the only benefit that came out of their use.
Eliminating the Need for Harmful Chemicals
Air knives are fast and efficient. They can cover the entire surface of a product and conduct several actions other than drying them. They are also capable of cooling products and removing oils. The durable air knife models of today are so strong with the use of blowers that they can clean and dry items within a matter of seconds.
Early Air Knives
Air knives had been around for more than 20 years before they became popular. They have had various names such as air jets and air combs. These early air knives did well for the industry for many years, but they quickly evolved. The 80s was the time for the blower-powered system. It developed just in time to assist plants that needed to purge themselves of the eco-caustic solvents they were using.
Types of Air Knives
A manufacturing plant can access a variety of air knives for their projects. The high-grade stainless steel models are the best for locations that deal with corrosive items. These models are most suitable for food manufacturers out of all the different types. The Spyder manifolds are best for companies that package drinks in bottles.
High-grade stainless steel knives are equipped for pharmaceutical plants. Other types of air knife options that businesses have are options such as the cone manifolds, SV10 Nozzles, SV10 Manifold models and many more. The SV10 Manifold is another option for food and beverage companies. They are all crafted of fine and durable materials like stainless steel and high-quality aluminium.
Air knives have played an important part in the development of mass production and have made drying and cleaning processes far more efficient than ever before. Let’s see how much things have changed in another 40 years!
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