All hot melt tanks offer the end user high-performance, reliability, and precise hotmelt adhesive application . Engineered for quality and durability, hot melt systems should deliver long-lasting use across a variety of commercial and industrial hot melt applications.
However, like any production asset, hot melt tanks benefit from regular cleaning, maintenance, and inspection. We were recently asked to strip, clean and maintain the unit pictured below for a customer. The unit was used for large-scale projects, and one of the customer’s staff had recently identified a glue leak.
The Problem:
On examining the unit, our team discovered that glue had leaked out of the base unit – probably from the unit being overfilled with hotmelt adhesive – and the air pipes were contaminated with degraded glue.
The image below shows the unit from underneath: glue had leaked all the way through and had started to get in the way of electric wires and internal components. It was a real mess, and the customer was lucky that there hadn’t been a severe failure or malfunction.
Unfortunately, once a leak like this happens, problems tend to cascade. Glue on the outside drops back into the base unit (as shown in the internal images below). This can increase the risk of burns to operators as it drips downwards.
How To Avoid This Sticky Problem With Your Hot Melt Applicator
The best way to avoid a glue spillage progressing to this severity is to regularly visually check the condition of the tank and any potential leaks.
Most overspill issues we’ve encountered arise from the maximum level marker being missed or ignored. Ideally, a tank should only be filled three quarters full with glue, and definitely not past the maximum level line. Hot melt tanks work best if they are topped up little and often!
The opposite is also true. If you allow the glue tank level to get too low, debris can get sucked into your system. Fitting your system with an automatic glue feeder can be a good solution, preventing you from needing to open the tank repeatedly. Our auto feeders fill regularly keep the glue level at optimum level, avoiding disruption to your production line. This avoids the main issue with manual filling, which is that most operators are (understandably) more likely to completely refill the tank in one go and overfill, rather than have to go back to the machine time and again.
Next Steps
The Adhesive Laundry provide equipment, spare parts, and cost-effective cleaning services for a range of adhesive dispensing equipment. To find out more or to request a quote, please contact one of our expert team today by clicking here.
