24 V DC Static Eliminator Bars

Compact ionising bars that neutralise static on film, labels and packs on moving lines, with built-in electronics on a 24 V DC supply.

Also known as: Static eliminator, Anti-static bar, Ionising bar, Static neutraliser, Static remover bar

A static eliminator bar is a row of fine emitter points that produce positive and negative air ions when powered. Pass a charged film, label or pack through that ion cloud and the charge is neutralised, so the material stops clinging to rollers, sheets stop sticking together, and dust stops being pulled onto the surface. These 24 V DC bars carry their electronics inside the housing, so they need only a low-voltage supply and signal cable, not a separate high-voltage power unit.

Static builds up whenever two insulating surfaces touch and separate: film peeling off a roll, a pack leaving a conveyor belt, a label lifting from its liner. Faster lines and drier air make it worse. The bar does not stop the charge being made; it removes it just after, so mount it where the charge causes trouble, just before the point of use.

It is the right answer for web, film, label and pack handling on packaging and conveying lines. It is the wrong answer for explosive or flammable atmospheres, for very wide winders or distances over about 1 m (long-range types are needed), and for belts that are themselves the source of the charge. For that last case, look at our Anti-Static / ESD Conveyor Belts.

Short-range, medium-range: which one

Closer is almost always better: the nearer the emitters, the faster the charge is cleared. Choose the shortest range the machine layout allows. Typical figures only; the real working distance depends on the charge level, speed and material, so confirm for your line.

DC bars or AC bars

Older AC bars take a high-voltage feed from a separate power unit, and the cable between the two is part of the design. They are widely made and cheap, and can be the right call on a simple, short, non-critical run. DC bars keep the electronics in the bar and run on 24 V DC, which makes wiring simpler and safer to handle, allows a status output to the PLC, and suits compact machines. That is why machine builders often fit them as standard.

We quote the DC range. If you only need to neutralise occasional light charge on a slow, short line, a passive anti-static brush may be enough and costs less.

Where to mount it

• Put it just before the point where the static does harm (the print station, the sealing jaws, the stacking point), not at the far end of the line.
• Mount it facing the charged surface at the distance for the type you chose, and keep that distance steady along its length.
• Keep it clear of metal parts that sit closer to the emitters than the product does, as they pull the ions away.
• For wide webs, the bar is made to length; for very wide winders or distances over about 1 m, ask for a long-range type or a second bar.

Check that it works

Do not judge a bar by the status light alone. Read the charge on the material before and after the bar with a handheld static field meter (see Handheld Static Field Meters). A working bar brings the reading close to zero; if it does not, the usual causes are a bar that is too far away, dirty emitters, or a second source of charge downstream of the bar.

Emitters, cleaning and life

Emitters slowly collect dust and residues from the air and from film, and a dirty emitter neutralises less. The bar flags this with its clean-me alert. Switch the bar off, clean the emitters with a soft brush and a little isopropyl alcohol, and let them dry before switching on. Emitters are replaceable, so a worn set is a part, not a new bar.

When things go wrong

What to send us for a quote

The more of these you can give us, the faster the quote and the less likely we are to suggest the wrong type.

• Line speed and the width of the film, label, web or pack
• Distance from the product to where the unit will be mounted
• Supply voltage you have available (24 V DC for the bars)
• Compressed air available (pressure, and whether it is clean and dry)
• Whether the area is hazardous (flammable or explosive atmosphere)
• Length of bar required and the space available to mount it

Specifications

Brand	European partner brand
Supply	24 V DC; the electronics are inside the bar, so no separate high-voltage power unit
Working Distance	Short-range types typically about 25 - 100 mm from the product; medium-range types typically about 100 - 500 mm
Line Speed	Short-range types typically suit speeds above 1,000 m/min
Construction	Epoxy-resin-filled housing with replaceable tungsten emitters; compact profiles down to about 20 x 32 mm are available
Monitoring	Local status indication and a remote output to the machine PLC, including a clean-me alert
Length	Made to length for the application
Applications	Film and label unwinding and rewinding, Packaging and filling lines, Pre-print and pre-coat web cleaning, Plastic containers on conveyors, Pharma and food packaging lines (non-hazardous areas)

Key features

Frequently asked questions