Control of Foreign Materials

Hello Everyone - we are a food packaging material flexographic printer that supplies printed packaging for chips, snacks etc.. An SQF auditor questioned the use of anti-static tinsel that is widely used in this industry for static control on the films when printing, laminating, etc. They are concerned that the tinsel pieces could break off of the string and get wound into the roll - definitely a valid concern. Has anyone had any experience with this. Sure, we could purchase anti static bars for the equipment, but that's a huge expense for a small operation on a tight budget. Operational checks would be out as it would be impossible to determine if one or a few pieces of the tinsel were missing. Any suggestions are always welcome.

Tony  

_{Sorry everyone - Answered my own question on this but thought I'd pass the information along - TAKK Industries out of Cincinnati Ohio makes a stretchable, antistatic, flexible cord that works as well or better than the antistatic tinsel that printers are using - just simply forgot about it as we used it at another company many years ago - getting old I guess.}

_{Tony Z} 

Dear TonyZ,

I wonder how many people like myself were already lost at "flexographic" ? :smile:

Interesting nonetheless.

Rgds / Charles.C

Tony,

Tinsel, although widely used is very inefficient.

Check out www.stopstatic.com and try their Static String. Also make sure you read up on static on their web site. Most people do not undestand how static works and do not properly apply a anti static solution.

Tamale