Introduction: Water Based Adhesives and Pallet Stabilisation – WBA
WBA is a water based adhesive system used to stabilise pallet stacks. WBA affords a very strong horizontal bond (unlimited shear strength) and a very weak vertical bond (relatively low tensile strength), and when separating wrappers, leaves no residue, print or fibre lift.
In today’s economic climate the most exciting aspect is that WBA in all probability can save your manufacturing plant money – directly by reducing packaging overheads and indirectly by minimising transport damages.
• WBA offers between 30/40 different types of adhesives for a wide variety of wrappers.
• WBA adhesives are non-toxic, FDA approved, recyclable and produces no solid waste.
• WBA leaves no tacky residue and importantly is cold applied, thus extremely safe to use.
• The WBA adhesives offer a wide range of formulated products for a multitude of packaging applications such as plain and high graphic cartons, paper, poly-woven, laminated, BOPP and plastic bags.
• WBA adhesives are effective within a temperature range of -25 to +80°C and are not affected by time or humidity.
• WBA does not damage the packaging surface or leave unsightly residues.
• Our laboratory will test your particular packaging to determine the correct product for your particular application.
• Apart from improving pallet load stability, WBA will reduce your overall packaging costs by eliminating or reducing the need for other secondary packaging such as stretch film(suggest still use stretch film as a dust cover), corner boards, layer sheets, etc.
• WBA system will improve your carbon footprint by reducing your need for stretch film and other secondary packaging. There is no waste to dispose of, as the material itself becomes part of the packaging.
The WBA Application System
• The WBA adhesive application is applied automatically through custom- built spraying equipment, thus ensuring a consistent, accurate dosage. Application can also be applied by hand using a manual applicator.
• To maintain an accurate adhesive application it is essential that the packages move along a conveyor at a regular speed
• WBA adhesives are applied onto packages at a point just prior to when the package is placed onto a pallet.
• The automatic spraying system works on both automatic and manual palletising.
• The application system operates on clean plant-air (5-7 Bar) plus a 3 –pronged electrical plug (220 volt)
• The applicator is fitted with sensors/photo eyes that are adjusted to ensure the application will start and stop spraying at the correct points on the packages.
• The spraying equipment is fitted with different types of applicator guns for the various applications. For example atomising guns are fitted for laminated, plastic and polywoven bags while line guns are fitted for paper bags and corrugated cartons.
• The WBA adhesive is pumped from the drum to the applicator using an air-powered double diaphragm pump.
• The WBA applicator system is very simple to operate and maintain. Once installed requires minimal adjustments. However it is essential that the operator ensures applicator gun tips and sensors are kept clean.
Photographs illustrating WBA systems and applications
1) Application onto boxes – system is easy to install & maintain
2) “WBA will not harm graphics”
3) “Stretch film around top layers only