Wrinkles or deformation when laminating thin aerogel panels? Vacuum-assisted conveying technology and selection guide
In new energy power battery and energy storage equipment manufacturing, aerogel insulation sheets are a key fire-retardant and thermal insulation material. Because aerogel is thin and soft, it easily drifts, stretches, or wrinkles during automated lamination. Ensuring flatness and accuracy for these special materials is a core challenge in line upgrades. This article explains how vacuum-assisted conveying solves these problems.
Aerogel labeling process difficulties and our technical solution
When bonding flame-retardant fiber tape labels to aerogel panels, conventional roller or belt conveying often makes the material slip because of uneven friction. With standard tape applicators, thin material deforms slightly under force, causing wrinkles or offset. Aerogel surfaces are also fragile, and mechanical clamping easily damages edges. A non-contact, stable supporting approach is therefore required. Holding the material by vacuum suction and using a dedicated double-sided tape applicator lamination mechanism applies labels precisely and smoothly without damaging the panel. This vacuum-assisted approach eliminates wrinkles and stretching and keeps labeling consistent, meeting the strict quality standards of the new energy industry for insulation components.
Vacuum-assisted conveying technology and specifications
Take the WZ-171 automatic aerogel labeling machine from Wanzhi Automation, custom-developed for the new materials industry; its core is the vacuum-assisted conveying system. A dedicated automatic feeding platform combined with a vacuum suction-assisted conveying mechanism keeps thin aerogel from slipping or wrinkling. In terms of specifications, the WZ-171 supports the material with negative pressure throughout, holding labeling error within ±0.3 mm. It also offers wide compatibility, handling aerogel panels up to 610 mm and covering mainstream power battery insulation sheet formats. The heavy-duty extended one-piece stainless steel line frame weighs 280 kg, ensuring frame stability at high speed and preventing vibration from affecting labeling accuracy. After labeling, products slide automatically into a collection hopper for continuous unattended operation.
Selection tips and applications
In selection and operation, companies should assess machine compatibility against the actual length, width, and thickness range of their panels. For mixed production of multiple formats, choose a model with a modular adjustable structure so labeling stroke and conveying pressure can be adjusted quickly. The WZ-171 has a separate touch-screen industrial PC that stores conveying speed and labeling pressure visually, making changeover easy. The solution is widely used for power battery insulation and pipe insulation new materials. Wanzhi designed the machine around volume production needs, supporting 24-hour operation to help companies increase automated capacity.
FAQ
What should I do if insufficient vacuum suction causes material drift during aerogel labeling?
Check whether the vacuum generator air path is clear and clean dust and debris from the suction holes. Also raise the vacuum parameter on the touch screen appropriately for the panel thickness to keep the material stably supported throughout.
How do I set up the machine quickly for aerogel panels of different sizes?
Use the modular adjustable structure: first adjust the conveyor width and labeling stroke by mechanical limits, then recall the stored parameter recipe on the industrial control screen and fine-tune labeling pressure and speed to complete changeover.
How can scratches be avoided when collecting finished products after labeling?
Check the collection hopper and slide chute surfaces regularly to ensure they are smooth with no burrs or foreign objects. The automatic slide-and-collect design eliminates manual handling during transfer, reducing the risk of human scratching by design.
Written by Wanzhi Automation