Striking the wipe balance for industry
April 1st 2006

Pasi Maijanen, Product Group Manager, Metsa Tissue, says the company's Katrin Poly wipes are designed specifically for industrial use where high absorption make them suitable for a wide range of tasks

Paper industrial wipes are among the most popular choices for users in manufacturing applications, especially those involved in production and maintenance duties and tasks involving wash stations, according to research conducted by Metsa Tissue with the help of data analysts Kudosresearch1. The increased strength, absorbency and softness of today's paper industrial wipes are extending their suitability for a wider range of cleaning, wiping and polishing tasks than ever before.

One wipe, many applications

Industrial wipes can be used for anything from wiping down a piece of machinery in a food manufacturing application to polishing a car's bodywork in a garage. Different industries and processes will also have differing requirements. For example, wipes with greater absorption capacity and speed will be more important for a food manufacturer than the benefits of a lint free wipe, which will prove more valuable for wiping down printing presses in a printing house.

In today's manufacturing environment an industrial wipe should also offer multiple usage for a whole range of different tasks within just one application. Consequently, wipes offering multiple properties including superior strength when wet, strong absorbency, low linting and ultra softness will be in greatest demand.

Metsa Tissue's Katrin Poly range is an example of such versatility. The Poly fibre-cloth towel is designed to remove dirt and stains with solvents or water and to finish and polish surfaces. It also offers softness and the ability to absorb and release wax and polishing chemicals. The fibre cloths' construction ensures they do not lint, making them highly effective for polishing, especially when a dust-free finish is required.

Correct specification

When selecting an industrial wipe it is essential to fully determine the tasks you intend to use it for, to ensure the correct product is chosen.

For example, if you work in an application where spillages are a common occurrence and regular cleaning of machinery is required, a wipe that can absorb large amounts of liquid, yet retain its strength when wet will be extremely invaluable. Metsa Tissue's Katrin Poly wipes retain 75% of their strength when wet, which ensures any possible disruptions to the cleaning process are kept to a minimum as each wipe is less likely to be damaged.

Cuts wastage and saves money

Selecting the right industrial wipe for an application can literally save time and money. Using wipes with superior absorption properties can enable cleaning to be performed much faster with fewer wipes required for each job, cutting wastage and saving money. Metsa Tissue's Katrin range of industrial wipes have been specifically designed to provide superior absorption capacity enabling them to be used for a wide range of wiping tasks.

Whatever the application, it is important to choose a wipe of the right quality and made from the right material for each job. The Katrin range of products is designed and manufactured to minimise working hours, consumption, environment impact and hygiene risks while increasing profitability and overall economy.

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