Dry ice blasting in the packaging industry
Packaging lines accumulate adhesive residue, ink fouling, chain grease and plastic residue. For producers switching between product formats or materials, regular cleaning between runs is necessary. Conventional methods require disassembly of hot-melt heads, solvents for adhesive removal and hours of production downtime.
Cold Jet dry ice blasting cleans packaging equipment without disassembly, without solvents and without moisture in electronic sensors. This article covers how the technology works for packaging applications and which Cold Jet machine fits your line.
Why solvents and manual scrubbing fall short
Adhesive residue on hot-melt applicators hardens quickly. Operators use solvents or mechanical removal, both with risk of machine damage and safety issues for staff. For flexographic presses or ink components, rinse steps are required; moisture in print rolls creates quality problems.
For producers with frequent changeovers (for example pharma packaging with allergen management), the cycle of disassembly, cleaning, drying and reassembly is structural production loss.
How dry ice blasting works on packaging equipment
Cold Jet pellets clean through thermal shock and gas expansion without affecting dosing precision or the ink system. For hot-melt heads, adhesive holders, chains and print rolls, the technology works in situ; disassembly is not required.
The dry method means no moisture in electronic sensors, dosing meters or controls. Cleaning between runs is possible without long drying pauses.
Concrete benefits for packaging lines
- ✓No disassembly of hot-melt heads or dosing systems
- ✓No solvents for adhesive removal
- ✓Safe for electronic sensors and dosing meters
- ✓Reaches chains, screws and complex geometries
- ✓Reduces changeover time between product formats
- ✓HACCP-compliant for food packaging applications
- ✓Cycle-time savings up to 80 percent versus manual cleaning
- ✓Extends the service life of dosing and print components
Applications in the packaging industry
| Equipment | Contamination | Recommended machine |
|---|---|---|
| Flexographic presses | Ink residue, anilox roll fouling | PCS Ultra / Aero 40FP |
| Hot-melt adhesive applicators | Hardened adhesive residue | PCS Ultra |
| Labelers | Adhesive, paper dust | i³ MicroClean 2 |
| Sealers (heat-seal) | Plastic residue, melt fouling | PCS Ultra |
| Filling machines and dosing heads | Product residue, adhesive | i³ MicroClean 2 |
| Conveyors and chains | Grease, adhesive, product residue | Aero 40FP |
Recommended Cold Jet machines for the packaging industry
The PCS Ultra covers most packaging applications (flexo printing, hot-melt, sealers). For delicate labelers and dosing machines you use the i³ MicroClean 2. For heavier adhesive and ink applications the Aero 40FP.
Related applications in food production
- ✓Dry ice blasting in bakery
- ✓Dry ice blasting in chocolate
- ✓Dry ice blasting in dairy
- ✓Dry ice blasting in meat and slaughterhouse
Want Cold Jet dry ice blasting in your packaging production? Schedule a no-obligation on-site demo.
Request a demo →Frequently asked questions
Does dry ice blasting attack adhesive systems and hot-melt applicators?
No, Cold Jet pellets are non-abrasive. Adhesive residue on hot-melt heads, dosing heads and chains is removed without affecting the metal or dosing precision. For delicate electronics we recommend the fine pellet setting on the PCS Ultra.
Does Cold Jet work on flexographic and flexible packaging machines?
Yes, this is one of the strongest applications. Ink residue, adhesive residue and chain grease are removed without disassembly. Cycle-time savings up to 80 percent are realistic compared to manual scrubbing with solvents.
Which Cold Jet machine fits the packaging industry?
For broadly deployable configurations we recommend the PCS Ultra. For specific delicate machines (labelers, dosing heads) the i³ MicroClean 2. For heavier adhesive and ink applications the Aero 40FP.
Does dry ice blasting also clean adhesive holders and carton-erector stamps?
Yes, adhesive holders and stamp systems on carton erectors are suitable for Cold Jet. Adhesive residue releases thermally; production downtime is typically 15 to 30 minutes per machine.
Is dry ice blasting safe near sensitive sensors?
Yes, with the right settings. Cold Jet is non-conductive and safe for electronics when you dial back pellet size and blast pressure for sensor environments. Our training covers these procedures specifically.