Why It's Important To Clean Your Hot Melt Adhesive Equipment
The invention of hot melt adhesive equipment has made it easier than ever for manufacturers to produce and package their goods across a wide variety of industries. From sealing cartons to binding books, hot melt adhesive machinery can offer a more efficient and less wasteful process to get products into consumers' hands. But over time, these machines can become clogged with residue from the adhesives they dispense — leading to poor performance and reduced efficiency.
As such, it's essential to take preventative measures by regularly maintaining and cleaning hot melt equipment in order to keep it in excellent condition. In this blog, we'll discuss the importance of cleaning your hot melt equipment, which cleaning solutions our experts recommend, and how best to go about cleaning your machinery.
How Hot Melt Buildup Can Affect Your Business Operations
Removing residual hot melt adhesive from your equipment is crucial for several reasons. Not only does it ensure that the equipment operates at its optimal level, but it can also extend the lifespan of your hot melt adhesive system. Machinery like hot melt nozzles, hot melt hoses, tanks, and conveyor belts can get clogged by residual adhesive buildup.
This buildup, in turn, can cause:
- Uneven adhesive application
- Product defects
- Higher reject rates
- Increased downtime
- Premature wear and tear
- Costly repairs or replacements
More importantly, though, it is essential for the health and safety of your workers, as residue buildup can gradually release toxic fumes that are harmful to your employees' health.
Experts Recommend Infinity Bond Hot Melt Adhesive Cleaners
While there are many different hot melt system cleaners available, like Henkel Technomelt Melt-o-Clean, our experts recommend Infinity Bond EnviroClean as a surface cleaner. Because despite being a widely recognized cleaning solution in the industry, Melt-o-Clean has been discontinued for some time now.
In selecting a replacement product, our experts choose Infinity Bond EnviroClean for its similar properties to Melt-o-Clean as a cold cleaning agent that can clean machine surfaces to remove not only residual adhesive but also heavy grease and grime. EnviroClean also won over our experts for its value and cost-savings compared to other hot melt adhesive cleaners.
For those looking for more than just a surface cleaner, our experts will point you to Infinity Bond Enviroflush. Enviroflush is a cleaning solution used for purging hot melt adhesive systems. Like EnviroClean, Enviroflush is specially formulated to remove hot melt adhesive residue from machinery and equipment without causing any damage. It is biodegradable, non-toxic, and requires no mixing to use.
Quick Guide To Cleaning Your Hot Melt Machinery With Infinity Bond Products
How you clean your equipment depends on the hot melt cleaner you use and the type of equipment itself. Although this short guide is a great place to start when using Infinity Bond's line of hot melt cleaning products, we always recommend following your equipment manufacturer's guidelines first and foremost.
How to use Infinity Bond EnviroClean hot melt cleaning spray:
- Turn off the machine and unplug it from the power source
- Allow it to cool down completely
- Remove any excess adhesive from the machine using a scraper or putty knife
- Spray Infinity Bond EnviroClean directly onto the adhesive residue and let it sit for a few minutes
- Wipe the residue away with a clean cloth
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 as needed until all residue is removed
- Clean the machine with a damp cloth to remove any remaining cleaner
- Allow the machine to dry completely before using it again
How to use Infinity Bond Enviroflush hot melt cleaning solution:
- Pour Enviroflush into the hot melt adhesive system's tank
- Set the temperature between 300ºF and 350ºF
- Let it circulate through your machine until the reservoir is clean
- Drain your hot melt dispensing system
- Scrape away any remaining char
- Discard the first few minutes of adhesive from your bulk hot melt tank
Cleaning Your Hot Melt Adhesive System Doesn't Have To Be Difficult
We understand that cleaning your hot melt adhesive system can sometimes feel like quite the undertaking. But regular cleanings and purges are vital to keep it serviceable. By following our guide, we hope to make it easier for you to tackle the task of cleaning your hot melt machinery.
That being said, we also know that every hot melt system is different, and our quick guide doesn't cover all the details. Should you have additional questions concerning the products we recommended or how to clean a specific piece of equipment — don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Unfortunately, no matter how well you clean your hot melt equipment, it doesn't mean it will last forever. If you are in need of new equipment, you may be able to get it for free through us with your regular adhesives purchase. Learn more here.