September 8, 2026 Terrence Lewis

Eliminating Glue Lines & Panel Haze (Riepe Spray Systems)

1. The Hidden Cost of Manual Edge Cleanup

Manual post-processing at the outfeed table might seem like standard practice, but it carries severe hidden costs for production shops:

Micro-Scratching & Surface Hazing: Solvents combined with shop-floor abrasive dust create fine swirl marks and dull patches on delicate super-matte and high-gloss acrylic surfaces.
Excess Labor Overhead: Spending 2 to 4 minutes manually scraping and wiping down every single panel adds dozens of non-value-added labor hours to every job.
Edge Band Swelling: Aggressive solvent application can seep into the seam, weakening the hot-melt bond or causing edge tape delamination over time.

⚠️ The Problem with Squeeze-Out

Whether running standard EVA or high-strength Jowat® PUR hot melts, a small amount of adhesive squeeze-out is necessary to guarantee full seam coverage. Without release chemistry, that squeeze-out adheres directly to the panel surface and pressure rollers.

2. How the Riepe® Chemical System Works (Infeed to Outfeed)

An integrated Riepe® electronic spray system applies microscopic, precisely metered chemical barriers at critical stations along the edgebander track:

Station	Chemical Applied	Mechanical & Chemical Function
1. Infeed (Pre-Milling / Pressure Zone)	Riepe® LPZ II (Release Agent)	Electronically sprayed onto top and bottom panel edges. Creates an invisible barrier that prevents molten EVA or PUR squeeze-out from adhering to the panel face.
2. Edge Pressure Rollers	Riepe® Antistatic / Coolant	Cools the glue joint instantly to stabilize edge placement and prevents adhesive residue from transferring onto machine pressure rollers.
3. Outfeed (Scraper & Buffing Station)	Riepe® LP163 (Cleaning Agent)	Sprayed ahead of buffing wheels. Dissolves the release agent barrier, removes remaining adhesive residue, and neutralizes static charge so PVC trimmings don't cling to panels.

3. Why Proper Nozzle Calibration Matters

Riepe® chemical solutions are engineered for ultra-fine micro-dosing. Operating nozzles incorrectly leads to waste or uneven application:

Operating Pressure: Ensure electronic spray nozzles are calibrated between 1.0 and 1.2 bar. Excessive pressure creates overspray and wastes fluid.
Targeted Spray Arc: The spray should form a precise 5mm to 10mm band right at the panel perimeter—never a broad mist across the panel surface.
Nozzle Maintenance: Inspect spray tips weekly. Wipe clean with Riepe LP163 to ensure wood dust hasn't partially clogged the orifice.

💡 The Result: Clean Panels Off the Line

When LPZ II and LP163 are properly synchronized, panels exit your machine 100% finished, static-free, and ready for immediate packaging or assembly. Zero manual scraping required.