Keeping Napkins in Line

They are something we reach for in a hurry, to fix a squirt of mustard gone in the wrong direction at a picnic, to mop up a spilled drink on a restaurant table. But as quickly as we use them and dispose of them, there is more to making a paper napkin than first meets the eye. Vacuum pumps from Busch accompany paper napkins throughout their production journey.

Even the most mundane of household articles can have an interesting origin story. Paper napkins are one such item that draws very little attention to itself, but from idea to table, each napkin makes its way through many different production stages. These not-so-glamorous products have a role to fulfil, and a certain appearance that customers expect. Guiding the napkin to this look and functionality is where vacuum plays its part: Napkins are quite delicate products, and vacuum gives the gentle but secure hold they need to get there.

Decoration to size

The paper arrives on the production line in a roll, at this stage looking more like kitchen or toilet paper than an individual napkin. On its way down, this long, continuous roll is embossed, printed, or otherwise decorated – or may be left plain. At the final stations in the line, vacuum helps guide the paper and hold it in place. As the sheet enters the cutting apparatus, it flows over a perforated metal plate. Vacuum is applied to the sheet through the small holes, and it is pulled gently downwards, keeping the paper straight and uncreased as it enters the rollers. In some machines, even the rollers are connected to the vacuum system to make sure there is no movement during cutting. The paper is then trimmed down to size, creating individual squares from the meters-long roll. A similar process is then used to move the newly created squares into the folding tools, the final step to creating a recognizable disposable napkin.

Vacuum at the end of the line

Not all napkins look the same: Some napkins come folded diagonally, others take one fold, yet others two or three. The folding machines can be set up to cut and fold differently depending on the final look needed. But one thing remains constant, which is that the napkin must be guided correctly to ensure accurate finishing. A napkin that enters the mechanism at an angle, or creased, will result in squint cuts and wonky folds – and an aesthetically displeasing end result. Each individual napkin is once again passed over a plate with vacuum gently suctioning from underneath. This flattens the sheet and makes sure it enters the folding template as it should so that a perfectly folded napkin comes out the other side. Vacuum solutions from Busch can help keep the napkins on the right track and make sure they leave the machine with a crisp fold and the desired look.