Boxing clever
October 1st 2005 A wipe is one of those simple things do the job you need them to do, but they be improved? asks Pasi Maijanen, Product Group Manager, Metsa Tissue
When we come to need them, they often have a crucial job to perform - anything from high performance and precision cleaning in automotive applications through to absorbing an accidental spill.
One of the latest and increasingly popular innovations in commercial and industrial wipes has been the introduction of pre-cut and prepackaged products. Traditionally, wipes have been brought in bulky roll form, but today users increasingly prefer the added convenience and mobility of folded wipes in smaller and more convenient packaging.
There is no need to stop and tear off a wipe when a much quicker solution is required. Wipes in small cartons are also much easier to carry around, making it easier to move from job to job.
Disposable wipes are clean, fresh and pre-cut to convenient sizes and shapes. They 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.
It is also necessary to select the best wipe for the job, with premium quality, specialist products offering improved economy through reduced wastage. Different industries and processes demand different products. 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 non-linting is more important than infection hazard control. So for this application Katrin Poly polishing and cleaning wipe is ideal. It eliminates stains and dirt to produce a polished finish, with the added benefit of removing the need for unhygienic cloth rags.
Poly is a fibre-cloth towel designed to remove dirt and stains with solvents or water and to finish and polish surfaces. The 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, 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.
Metsa Tissue's multi-purpose Poly wipes, for example, are available packaged in boxes of 75. Each handy-sized box serves as a selfcontained dispenser and also helps to protect the wipes inside it from any splashed or spilt liquids.
For 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.
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 providing for overall economy. More articles from Metsa Tissue Ltd: | 
