Case History
An Illinois Tool Works Company
Magnum Force Ionized Air Knife Outperforms All Other Blow-off
Systems
Problem
The key to any quality painted product
is to remove any surface particulate and
contamination prior to painting. With many
options to chose from, the automaker was
undecided on their choice of systems.
Ultimately they decided to evaluate three:
 Option #1 - Blow-off without the use of
ionization
 Option #2 - Blow-off with ionization but
using plant compressed air
 Simco’s Magnum Force - Blow-off
using a blower-driven ionized air-knife.
Solution
An engineering study was initiated to
evaluate each system. The plant’s
requirements for blow-off performance and a
“clean” surface were identified. A test was
conducted using the following criteria and
measurements:
 Wet and dry surfaces tested.
 Particles 10 microns and larger had to be
removed.
 Precise amounts of particulate were
added onto the surface prior to blow-off
test.
 Before and after the test, the surface was
studied under a microscope and the
amount surface particulate counted.
 Energy consumption of each system was
evaluated.
Results
The Magnum Force with its blower
driven, ionized air-knife design was the
clear winner – removing 97% of the
surface particulate.
The static neutralizing bars used on
the Magnum Force quickly remove any static
on the surface facilitating easy particulate
removal and preventing particle reattachment. The surface particulate counts
were the lowest of the three systems
evaluated, and well within the criteria needed
for quality surface finishing.
The blower design had the lowest
operating costs of the three systems reducing the need for plant compressed air
and having operating costs 45% lower than
plant air systems.
Blow-off System Performance
3000
Particulate
Counts
Background
A large automotive manufacturer
needed a “blow-off” system for use in their
paint line. With many types of technologies
available to do this, they decided to conduct a
study to find the most cost-effective system
available.
2257 North Penn Road  Hatfield, PA 19440
Tele: 215-822-2171  Fax: 215-997-3453
Web: simco-static.com
2000
1000
0
Before Option Option
#1
#2
Mag
Force
Blow -Off System s Perform ance - % Particulate
Rem oval
Mag Force
Option #2
Option #1
80
85
90
% Rem oval
95
100