The advantages of wipes over rags in industrial settings
May 1st 2005

Selecting the best wipe is essential to get the best results.Pasi Maijanen, product group manager of Metsä Tissue,producers of Katrin wipes argues that rags no longer offer the correct choice of wipe

When it comes to industrial applications, choosing the right wipe for the job can make an enormous difference in terms of performance, efficiency and economy. Rags and laundered cloths were once the all-purpose solution for wiping dirt and oils from equipment and hands.Convenient disposable wipes are now widely recognised as the preferred alternative.

Disposable wipes are broadly favoured over rags and laundered cloths in industrial settings for a number of important reasons. Rags are generally less absorbent especially if they are made of a non-cotton material, while laundered cloths often smear liquids, grease and oil, instead of absorbing them.Often, there are high hidden costs involved in the collection, counting and storage of laundered cloths.

Contamination of laundered cloths is also an issue, particularly for the food and beverage sectors, as reuse of the cloth can aide the spread of bacteria. Rags are losing popularity in industrial applications given the variable quality and inconsistent size, absorbency and strength of the cloth. Furthermore, rags often give poorer performance after being repeatedly laundered.

Disposable wipes on the other hand are clean, fresh and can be precut to convenient sizes and shapes. Pre-cut wipes provide higher levels of convenience and mobility, as the wipes are available individually in a compact packaging and ready-folded.

Disposable wipes are consistently clean and absorbent, with no danger of wiping on rather than wiping off any contaminants.When you use a clean wipe every time, there is no need to worry about crosscontamination.

Different industries and processes demand different products.

Therefore, it is necessary to select the best wipe for the job, with premium quality, specialist products offering improved economy through reduced wastage. For example, the plastics industry has different needs from the hygiene requirements of the food industry.

For use with plastics a fibre cloth that is nonlinting is more important than infection hazard control. So for this application Katrin Poly polishing and cleaning towels are ideal.They eliminate stains and dirt to produce a polished finish, with the added benefit of removing the need for unhygienic cloth rags.

Katrin Poly is a fibre-cloth towel range designed to remove dirt and stains with solvents or water and to finish and polish surfaces.The Katrin Poly range also offers softness and the ability to absorb and release wax and polishing chemicals.

The fibre cloth construction ensures that the wipe does not lint – ideal for effective polishing and essential when a dust-free finish is required.

If greater wet strength is needed, Katrin Poly wipes also offer the ability to keep an outstanding 75% of their strength when wet.

Superior wet strength minimises disruption as wipes are much less frequently damaged in the cleaning process.

For industrial wiping applications that require liquids and stains to be wiped from surfaces, absorption capacity and absorption rate are the most important features.A wipe with enhanced absorption properties saves time and cuts wastage.Using better quality products helps to get the job done faster and uses less material. For example, to absorb one litre of water requires 165 grams of textile wipe, but only 107 grams of a paper,when using the Katrin XL range.All the more significant is the fact that the paper wipe will absorb this liquid in only five seconds compared with 36 seconds for a textile rag.

Made from wood pulp and polyester, the latest Katrin Poly XL Blue is a tough and absorbent non-woven tissue wipe, which is ideal for a wide range of heavy-duty industrial wiping tasks.The wood pulp ensures very high absorption capacity, while polyester gives extra strength for improved durability.The wipe’s unique open-structured texture also makes for a comfortable grip and better cleaning of thick liquids and pastes.

Absorbency is the key when it comes to heavy-duty industrial wiping.The absorption capacity of Katrin Poly XL Blue is outstanding when compared to similarly-priced industrial wipes and 50 per cent higher that a standard Katrin Poly wipe.

Excellent durability,wet strength and chemical resistance make the Katrin Poly XL Blue ideal for use with cleaning chemicals.This makes a big difference in wet chemical wiping,both in terms of efficiency and reducing unnecessary consumption.With no added binder or chemical additives,the new wipes are safe to use with a range of solvents and chemicals.

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