METAPOR®: Porous material for air cushion applications
Very often, different materials are transported on rollers or belts. For various sensitive materials a precise and a contact-free transport is required. Contactless transportation via air film is the solution.
Air flows through our porous materials. The result is a steady and equal air film that allows the handled products to hover and helps to transport the goods almost without any forces.
Air consumption and noise emissions are reduced considerably.
It’s possible to stop moving the handled good at any place by just changing the air direction from flow to suck.
Many different products / types of materials can be transported and handled via an air film.
Applications
Air film transportation technology has been used for a long time in the Semiconductor Industry to handle wafers and PCBs.
In addition to the Semiconductor Industry do our porous products add values in the mechanical and plant engineering, Printing-, Automation, Handling- and transportation industries. In these areas, we stand for high-quality products and services as well as future-oriented systems and innovation solutions.
Glass substrate handling
Highly sensitive products like glass substrate for flat displays and foils need to be handled extremely carefully.
The substrate “swims” on an air cushion of approx. 0.2 – 1mm on the edge of the transport belt, which is powered along at a speed of 6-12 m/min. The substrates are only touched on the edges foreseen for this purpose. The reverse side is not touched at all and all marks are avoided. Further the air cushion conveyor comprises of a lower number of moving components than conventional roller or conveyor belts, which makes for easier service and maintenance.
Recommended METAPOR® Products for air cushion applications
| Product | Application Characteristics | Density (g/cm3) | Flexural strength (N/mm2) | Air flow rates * |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BF 100 AL | Air-cushion transport in paper industry plastics and metal handling | 1.8 | 56 | 1.4 |
| CE 100 WHITE | Air-cushion transport in semiconductor industry glass substrate handling | 1.7 | 28.5 | 1.4 |
| CE 170 WHITE | Air-cushion transport in semiconductor industry glass substrate handling | 1.7 | 28.5 | 1.4 |
* Air flow rates at pressure difference of 1 bar/10mm METAPOR® slab (per cm2 per minute in litres)