The new system introduced by Valmet (Espoo, Finland) this week to improve patented sensor technology uses new sheet quality measurements, innovative moisture profiling, as well as web monitoring and inspection systems for self-adhesive laminating processes. These are now combined in the Valmet IQ quality control system

While adhesive coat weight control has been available for several years, successful control of the silicone release layer has lacked a suitable online sensor until now. The Valmet IQ Silicone and Adhesive Measurement is designed especially for demanding paper and self-adhesive laminating applications to measure silicone coated release liners. Mounted on a single sided scanning frame to provide continuous cross direction measurement profiles of the silicone coat weight, a second sensor after the adhesive application measures the adhesive coat weight. The accurate scan averages and high-resolution CD profiles measured by the new sensor provide a solid foundation for Valmet IQ's machine- and cross-direction silicone and adhesive controls. 

 

The new system in all has three key components: 

 

1. Curl control with moisturizer sprayboom

The Moisturizer sprayboom is used to control final laminate curl and the moisture profile of the release liner to improve laminate uniformity and runnability. IQ Moisturizer sprays a fine mist to the paper in a controlled way, providing a very high degree of control and very fast response to quality destroying conditions. 

 

2. Online quality control

Valmet IQ Process and Quality Vision (PQV) provides web inspection and monitoring tools for online defect inspection, detecting coating streaks and voids and video monitoring of key process operations. Defect inspection at unwinding, for instance, helps identify raw material problems like holes or other serious defects that can cause streaks and quality issues not originating in the laminating machine itself. Printing surface inspection at the reeler provides the final quality assurance step. Production and quality parameters can be easily monitored with the system, providing a clear view into process and product quality at all times.

 

3. Comprehensive quality management with Valmet IQ

Valmet IQ is a quality management solution designed and built with the experience of thousands of system deliveries by Valmet over more than half a century. Designed for pulp, paper, board, and tissue production, it is a customizable quality control, information, and management solution that is now further developed for the converting industries such as corrugated board and self-adhesive laminates.