Definition
The controlled force applied to a moving web; critical for registration, wrinkle control, and winding quality.
Applications
- Printing presses
- Laminators
- Slitters
- Inspection rewinders
Benefits
- Improves registration
- Reduces wrinkles and breaks
- Stabilizes roll build quality
Industry Examples
- Medical: stable tension to avoid dimensional distortion in pouch-making webs.
- Industrial: controlled tension to prevent telescoping on heavy-gauge laminates.
- Electronics: maintains registration accuracy when printing compliance information on shielding films.
FAQ
Q: What happens if tension is too high?
A: Stretching, neck-in, and registration drift; potential web breaks.
Q: What happens if tension is too low?
A: Wrinkles, wandering web, and poor winding hardness.