Frequently Asked Questions

A: Our products are designed to de-tackify, dissolve, and remove stickies, pitch, latex, resins, and adhesives directly from paper machine wires and felts.

A: Apply when stickies on the wire or felt disrupt sheet formation. On tissue machines, this often shows up as sheet holes, which can cause breakouts at the creping blade or reel, resulting in downtime, waste, and extra splices during converting.

A: Our citrus-based products are highly effective against a wide range of paper mill contaminants. Mills typically reduce chemical consumption by 50 - 70% compared to diesel, gasoline, kerosene, mineral spirits, or caustic-based cleaners. They’re safer, more pleasant to use, and better for both operators and equipment.

A: Yes. Low-VOC formulations are available upon request for mills that require them. These products are effective alternatives while meeting stricter compliance requirements.

A: Stickies Solutions products are not designed for direct use in the pulping process. However, they can be applied effectively on screens and cleaners in de-inking systems, as well as directly on wires, felts, and other machine surfaces.

A: Pre-machine or de-inking programs often encapsulate stickies, pushing the problem downstream where it reappears in dryers, reels, or converting lines. Our products work directly on the wire and felt, eliminating stickies before they create downstream issues.

A: No. Our products are designed specifically for removing stickies, pitch, latex, and adhesives. They do not remove ash, clay, or other fillers.

A: No. For best results, apply undiluted.

A: Yes. Our products are effective for both on-the-fly cleaning (while the machine is running) and batch cleaning during scheduled downtime. This versatility helps mills address stickies issues quickly without unnecessary lost production.

A: Apply on the fly while the machine is running. Pump undiluted product onto the wire or felt using a coarse spray. For spot cleaning, a handheld sprayer or wand system can be used to focus on affected areas.

A: Typical application time is 1 - 3 minutes, depending on clothing length and severity of deposits.

A: The most common setup is a spray bar with an air-operated double diaphragm pump. For spot cleaning, a handheld wand with a fan nozzle works effectively.

A: A standard spray bar typically uses stainless-steel fan nozzles at 3.5 - 4" spacing, 60° fan angle, with each nozzle flowing about 0.50 GPM at 20 - 40 PSI. For handheld wands, a 15° or 30° fan nozzle with ~1.5 GPM flow is a good starting point. Operators can adjust fan width and flow rates to optimize coverage.

A: Stickies Solutions cleaners are available in drums, totes, or bulk deliveries to fit the needs of mills of all sizes.

A: Once dissolved and de-tackified, stickies are removed by high-pressure showers, flooded nip showers, or knock-off showers.

A: Residual product enters the white-water system. It is lighter than water and typically floats out through overflows, evaporation, or removal in the sludge at the clarifier. Concentrations are very low and do not interfere with papermaking.

A: No. Concentrations at the wastewater facility are extremely low. The material is typically removed with sludge in the primary clarifier.

A: Since they are organic, non-aqueous solvents, pH does not apply.

A: Yes. The components of our cleaners are consistent with FDA guidelines for use in paper and tissue manufacturing. Full regulatory details are available upon request.

A: Our products have flash points in the 115 -128°F (46 - 53°C) range. With typical mill ventilation and humidity, ignition risk is extremely low. Compared to common alternatives like mineral spirits (105°F) or kerosene (100°F), our products have a higher flash point and a proven record of safe use in paper mills, with no flash-point-related incidents.