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The use of bondable wire offer a number of advantages over
vacuum or trickle impregnation and dip and pack varnish securing methods.
Manufacturing Cost Savings:
Oven methods can take up to several
hours to complete. The oven must be preheated, the varnish applied and then the
varnish must be allowed to cure before final testing can begin.
With the use of resistance bonding,
manufacturers are able to accomplish the testing and bonding processes anywhere
from 5 and 30 seconds. The testing and the bonding applications are combined,
which increases the overall workflow, reduces the in-process inventory and
significantly increases output.
Reduction in Material Handling :
The necessity to order, store, handle
and maintain the varnish, varnish solvents, and any additives associated with
the varnishing process is eliminated . As a result, raw material waste and
overall waste disposal is reduced, creating just in time ordering practices and
leaner manufacturing goals.
Reduction in Air Pollution :
The fumes from the solvents must be
viewed as a possible air pollutant and therefore controlled. Depending on the
type of varnish being replaced the potential to reduce emissions exist. The use
of ovens will be eliminated, therefore, there will be no open dip tanks, no
mixing tanks, no drums of varnish or solvents being stored; eliminating the risk
of spillage and human exposure. The amount of time spent on clean up will be
significantly reduced.
EPA constraints, safety and environmental issues
and concerns are reduced.
Uniformity :
The bonded coat is more consistent and
predictable compared to varnish coatings. Most products manufactured with
bondable wire have a greater bond consistency throughout. In addition, the
finished unit is solidly bonded and may not require any external retaining
device, forms, ties or braces.
Energy Cost Savings :
When you initially look at the cost of
the bondable wire compared to the same class of non-bondable wire the cost is
greater. However, bonding the heat activated adhesive coating is done in less
than five seconds; dramatically reducing power consumption per part. With
trickle impregnation, enormous amounts energy is used to keep the radiant
heaters on, even when not in use. Minutes, not seconds, are required to create a
valid bond. It has been shown over and over again that the significant savings
in energy more than offsets the extra cost of using bondable wire.
Capital Equipment Expenditures :
On the average, bonding machinery costs
about 1/2 as much as trickle impregnation machinery. On the lowest production
end, the return on investment should be even greater, as less maintenance is
required and the machinery should have a longer life, as it is simpler.
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