Flat die systems help protect against Covid-19

EDI dies from manufacturer Nordson are helping companies cope with the pandemic.

Patrick Meinen, global product line manager, explained: “Our company’s EDI Ultraflex sheet extrusion dies have been put into service for producing PVC, acrylic, and polycarbonate shields, face guards, sneeze guards, and barriers.

“And our Premier fixed-lip slot dies are now used for coating fabrics and filter membranes specifically intended to protect against Covid-19.”

One Covid-19-related order for Nordson’s flat die products was for sheet dies for PVC face shields. Palram Americas, Kutztown, PA, ordered a new Ultraflex sheet die, plus additional lips for diversifying the thicknesses available on its existing Ultraflex dies. The extrusion lines involved, located in the United Kingdom, USA, and Israel, are for producing various gauges of PVC for clear face shields and protective barriers. Palram now offers a line of ‘Covid-19 Solutions’ that includes diverse products for use in public environments.

Another customer that normally specialises in building products also ordered additional lips for its EDI sheet dies in order to manufacture clear PVC face shields. The three dies which were ordered on a rush basis will be used for coating filter membranes in medical applications, in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.

Meinen added: “While there continues to be a strong demand for personal protective equipment used in clinical settings, there is now also an urgent need for shields and barriers to facilitate the opening up of workplaces, retail establishments, and public spaces after weeks of lockdown.

“This has required the use of flat dies, both new and converted from other applications, for the manufacture of clear sheet.”