Before we get into solutions, let’s talk about what static electricity actually is. Static is a stationary electrical charge that builds up on insulating, non-conductive materials. It’s caused by an imbalance of charges between two surfaces.
You’ve seen it in lightning during a storm. You’ve felt it when your hair stands on end. And if you work in folding, you’ve definitely seen it on your equipment.
Static buildup is common in folding operations because sheets are constantly and rapidly fed through the machine. Over time — especially in high heat or low humidity — friction and repeated paper-to-metal contact generate more and more charge.
Static directly affects bindery productivity, especially on folding machines. The issues usually show up in three areas: feeding, folding, and delivery.
Feeding: As the paper enters the machine, static causes sheets to cling together. Instead of feeding one sheet, the machine pulls multiple sheets at once.
Folding: Static can also build up in the fold rollers. That charge keeps the sheet from fully reaching the deflector at the back of the fold plate. The result? Short folds and other defects.
Delivery: At delivery, finished pieces can cling together or stack unevenly. You may also get the bonus “shock to the fingers” every time you touch the folder. Anyone who’s dealt with it knows: static slows production, creates waste, and cuts into profit.
Update Ltd offers proven solutions for static control. Our most popular products are our static elimination bars, including the 400T and the 915 (the 915 requires a power supply). These bars neutralize positive and negative charges on the material, eliminating static. They’re easy to size and install — no outside service needed.
We also carry Slik Spray, available in 16 oz and 1 gallon containers. Slik Spray is an environmentally safe, microscopic anti-static treatment that reduces static buildup and takes friction down to almost zero. It leaves no sticky residue and won’t gum up your equipment.
Bonus: Slik Spray also helps reduce friction on paper cutter beds, cuts drag in folding operations, keeps most glues from building up on knives, and helps repel paper dust and ink on impression and transfer cylinders in press areas. Most importantly, it keeps static under control so you can run cleanly and efficiently.
In addition to static elimination bars and Slik Spray, Update Ltd stocks other static control tools — tinsel, static string, and more. Contact Update Ltd for help choosing the right setup for your application, or explore our full static control lineup at updateltd.com.
