Neutralize Static Quickly with EXAIR’s easy-to-mount Gen4 Ion Air Cannon

The lower relative humidity associated with the cold, dry air of winter results in a significant increase in calls related to static problems. Luckily, EXAIR has a wide range of Static Eliminators that are designed specifically to address static issues in a wide variety of industries. Materials such as paper, plastic, or textiles will normally contain an equal number of both positive and negative ions. When subjected to friction, this balance can be disturbed if the atoms gain or lose an electron.

The static charge will then exert a force on nearby charged objects or grounded conductors (including personnel). These issues can also manifest in the form of dust clinging to product, product clinging to itself, rollers, machine beds or frames, material jamming, and sheet feeding problems. Our Gen4 Static Eliminators have undergone independent laboratory tests to certify that they meet the rigorous safety, health, and environmental standards of the USA, European Union and Canada that are required to attain the CE and UL marks.

One of these such products is the Gen4 Ion Air Cannon. EXAIR’s Gen4 Ion Air Cannon neutralizes static charges at distances up to 15 feet without any moving parts. Utilizing EXAIR’s 2” Super Air Amplifier, the Gen4 Ion Air Cannon will maximize ionized airflow while minimizing compressed air consumption. The strong, concentrated, quiet, and efficient ionized air is capable of eliminating a 5kV charge in as little as .37 seconds.

The compact design saves bench spaces and allows the Ion Air Cannon to be mounted in confined areas. The stand is pre-drilled for easy mounting, and incorporates a swivel adjustment to precisely position the airflow. Some examples of applications that have required the assistance of an Ion Air Cannon include: removing static from motorcycle bodies prior to painting, static removal on PCB boards and disposable diaper manufacturing.

With a wide variety of Static Eliminating products available to ship same-day from stock, don’t wait for your static problems to subside when humidity levels come back up in the spring. Get yourself a Gen4 Static Eliminator from EXAIR and make sure you’re able to operate, static-free, for the rest of this winter and in the subsequent seasons to come!

Tyler Daniel, CCASS

Application Engineer

E-mail: TylerDaniel@exair.com

X: @EXAIR_TD

Clean Room Ready: EXAIR Intellistat Ion Air Gun

EXAIR’s Intellistat Ion Air Gun has achieved a Class 5 Clean room Rating, making it an excellent choice for static elimination in clean room environments where sensitive processes are conducted. Various manufacturing operations, including scientific research, solar panel production, and biotechnology, necessitate adherence to specific cleanliness standards. Consequently, any tools or materials utilized in these processes must comply with these rigorous requirements. The Intellistat from EXAIR has been specifically designed to meet these standards.

The Intellistat Ion Air Gun is a patented handheld device designed for static elimination in sterile environments and clean rooms. This lightweight instrument delivers quick static decay with a brief squeeze of its short-throw trigger, reducing voltage from 5,000 to 500 in less than a second. Enhancing its versatility, the Intellistat has received the ISO 14644-1 Class 5 certification for clean rooms and controlled environments, making it an ideal solution for electronics manufacturing, testing facilities, and laboratories.

The Intellistat product offering is the ideal solution for static elimination in your sensitive processes. Learn more about the Intellistat as well as the rest of EXAIR’s large line of static elimination products at www.EXAIR.com or by contacting any of our Application Engineers.

Jordan Shouse
Application Engineer

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Super Ion Air Knives Overview

Static buildup is a common problem in many manufacturing environments that can present itself in a number of ways, including shocking operators; causing materials to stick, tear or jam; or affecting sensitive electrical equipment. If you have encountered static issues in your facility, or in your own home perhaps, you may have noticed that it tends to be more prevalent in colder and dryer environments. This is due to a reduction in moisture in the air. The water vapor found in air helps to dissipate electrical charges, so when there is less moisture, there will be a higher electrical charge. This is why we are currently running a promotion for all of our Static Elimination products, now through March 31st, 2025.

One such product line that is included in this promotion is our Gen4 Super Ion Air Knives. They are engineered to remove static electricity from plastics, webs, sheet stock and other product surfaces by bathing them in a laminar sheet of air that sweeps surfaces clean of static, particulate, dust and dirt. This causes production speeds, product quality, and surface cleanliness to dramatically improve.

When the Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife floods an area or surface with static eliminating ions – up to 20 feet away, the force can be adjusted from a “blast” to a “breeze”. The Gen4 Super Ion Air Knife is shock-less, and has no moving parts. It also requires only 3.7 SCFM of compressed air per foot of length at 5 PSIG. The sound level is also surprisingly quiet at 50 dBA for most applications.

Compressed air flows through an inlet (1) into the plenum chamber of the GEN 4 Super Ion Air Knife. The flow is directed to a precise, slotted orifice. The primary air flow exits, it creates a uniform sheet of air across the entire length that immediately pulls in surrounding room air (2). An electrically powered GEN 4 Ionizing Bar (3) fills the curtain of air with positive and negative charge. The airstream delivers these static eliminating ions to the product surface (4) where it instantly neutralizes static and cleans dust and other particulates.

If you would like to discuss your static elimination application, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Al Wooffitt
Application Engineer

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Catching Static

Winter months can create the perfect conditions for static electricity, especially in colder climates. When the air is dry and cold, it becomes harder for electricity to move. This can lead to a buildup of static charge on our bodies and everyday objects. When we touch something metal or another person, we may feel a small shock. Understanding how winter affects static electricity can help us manage and reduce these annoying shocks during the cold months, and also address any issues static may cause in your industrial application.

Static electricity occurs when there is an imbalance of electric charges on an object. This imbalance happens when two insulating materials rub against each other, causing one to gain electrons while the other loses them. As a result, one object becomes negatively charged, while the other becomes positively charged. The static charge stays on the surface of the material until it can either flow away as an electric current, or be released through a spark or discharge. This phenomenon is commonly experienced when touching metal objects after walking on carpet, which can create a small shock.

A powerful blast of static eliminating ionized air, literally at your fingertips.

To reduce static electricity in an industrial setting, controlling humidity is essential. Using humidifiers can help maintain a higher moisture level in the air, which reduces static buildup. Additionally, bonding equipment to Earth ground, helps to safely drain any static electricity that may accumulate. Implementing anti-static additives in materials, or using ionization systems can further minimize static issues. By combining these strategies, companies can create a safer and more efficient working environment.

Regardless of the nature of the application, if you’ve got a static problem, EXAIR has a solution!

The static eliminator product line from EXAIR provides effective and active solutions to remove static electricity from surfaces without any physical contact. This is especially useful for products with complex shapes, where traditional methods may fall short. With EXAIR’s Gen4 products, users can direct ionized airflow to reach every part of a target item, ensuring thorough static elimination. This technology helps to improve product quality and reduce the risk of damage during handling. Overall, EXAIR’s static eliminators are a practical choice for maintaining a static-free environment in various industries.

If you would like to discuss static eliminating products by EXAIR, please do not hesitate to contact an Application Engineer. We are always happy to help!

Jason Kirby
Application Engineer
Email: jasonkirby@exair.com
Twitter: @EXAIR_jk