In many production environments, static is not a constant. It shifts with speed, substrate, humidity, contamination, reel size and operational changes such as variations in material batches or machine temperature over the course of a production day.
Choosing between a stand-alone ionising bar and a networked, feedback-enabled system determines whether you’re reacting to static or keeping your process under control.
Stand-alone AC or DC ionising bars deliver a fixed ion output. They perform well in stable, predictable processes, but when conditions fluctuate, so can their effectiveness. This may lead to:
For OEMs, this means that machine performance in the field may depend on how consistently the process conditions match the original design assumptions.
A closed-loop system continually measures the residual static level on the material and pro-actively controls IQ ionisation equipment to keep static under control to your preferences. The IQ Easy Platform brings this capability together by connecting up to 30 ionising devices through the Manager IQ Easy, with the Smart SLC supporting even larger setups, enabling coordinated control and device-to-device communication.
In practice, this provides:
This also reduces the need for OEM-specific field adjustments when machines run under varying conditions.
In processes with different types of material, variable speeds, tight and small tolerances, static fluctuations can quickly result in quality issues or unplanned downtime. An integrated static control system offers greater stability because ionisers, sensors and charging devices are working as one coordinated platform.
And because our IQ Easy Platform runs on a 24 V DC network architecture, installation is straightforward as high-voltage supplies are no longer needed, reducing external components and wiring complexity in machine design.
For applications where closed-loop control is not applicable, the IQ Easy Platform can operate in a monitoring-only configuration, providing status, performance and wear information to support traceability and planned maintenance.
Every process is different and in some cases, an ionising bar is all you need.
But if your process faces fluctuating static levels, quality variation or speed-related charge peaks, a closed-loop system can deliver measurable improvements in consistency, uptime and output stability.
With the IQ Easy Platform, system status, performance data and device wear are continuously monitored, reducing the need for manual checks and providing clearer insight for operators.
For OEMs, this means machines can deliver more stable performance across a wider operating window, even when conditions shift at the end customer’s site.
Not sure which approach fits your production environment? We’re happy to review your setup and advise on the most effective static-control architecture.
Contact us at: cs@simco-ion.nl
or reach out to your local Simco-ION representative.