Preventing Downtime: The Importance of Nozzle Cleaning of Hot Melt Glue Nozzles
Clogged hot melt glue nozzles are one of the most common causes of unscheduled downtime in adhesive application systems. Over time, charred adhesive and debris can accumulate in nozzles, restricting flow or altering the spray/bead pattern. The good news is that routine nozzle cleaning is a straightforward task that can dramatically reduce blockages and keep your lines running smoothly. The bad news is that if you wait until it’s too late, and the nozzles are so clogged up that your production line starts to suffer, you’ll risk unnecessary downtime.
The answer is to create a pro-active maintenance schedule.
By planning ahead by switching hot melt machines onto standby at night and sending your hot melt parts in to Adhesive for professional cleaning, you can prevent clog-related downtime and extend the life of your equipment.
Why Nozzle Cleaning Matters
When a nozzle begins to clog, you’ll notice symptoms like weak or erratic adhesive flow, unusual spray patterns, or even complete blockage (no glue coming out). This leads to poor product adhesion and can halt production. Many operators attempt a quick fix by poking a nozzle cleaning probe into the nozzle to clear it. However, this can push debris further back or damage the nozzle orifice, resulting in a recurring problem or costly nozzle replacement. Instead, a proper cleaning procedure should be followed that:
- Fully removes charred adhesive (also called “degraded” or “carbonized glue”) as well as any dirt or contaminants.
- Preserves the integrity of the nozzle orifice and threads.
- Is done with safety in mind, given the high temperatures involved.
Regular cleaning as preventive maintenance saves money and downtime, as cleaning nozzles on a schedule can be far more time-effective than reacting to clogs as they happen.
This is something you should entrust to an expert. Here is a hot melt tank that we professional cleaned. We also recommend having a quick read of our blog on the importance of putting your hot melt tank on standby – the same applies to glue guns. If your hot melt parts are starting to look like the main image in that article, you should have given us a call about six months ago! But it’s never too late to start.
To go from this:
…to this…
Contact the team at Adhesive today by clicking here and we’ll discuss your hot melt set up and how quickly we can transform the parts for you.
