Web Handling

Web handling "the physical mechanics related to the transport of continuous flexible materials (webs) through processes and machines" is gaining recognition as an engineering discipline - largely through the efforts of the Web Handling Research Center at Oklahoma State University, (WHRC). Work at the Center is creating a growing arsenal of knowledge that can be used to solve web process problems. Many problems that once required expensive online experimenting can now be solved quickly by applying basic engineering principles.

In addition to participating in programs at the WHRC, I have been involved in web handling for twenty-three years as a key development engineer with a major supplier of web process controls. I developed products for web guiding, optical inspection, spreading and thickness measurement. Applying these products required understanding (and often discovery) of the fundamental principles underlying web behavior. Essex Systems can solve problems in areas such as:

Lateral dynamics and control.
Wrinkling and spreading.
Winding.
Longitudinal dynamics and tension control.

Here are some other sites for web handling technology.