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September 21, 2023

Benefits of a Docking Station for Fluid Applicators


The Designetics docking station with a docked fluid applicator

In the world of manufacturing and production, precision is paramount. High-quality fluid applicators are indispensable tools for ensuring accuracy in fluid applications. However, the meticulous care and maintenance of these applicators often get overlooked.

Enter the docking station, a device that not only holds your applicator securely but also plays a pivotal role in extending its longevity and ensuring optimal performance. Read on to discover why a docking station is ideal for fluid applicators and how it can elevate your manufacturing process.

What is a Docking Station for Fluid Applicators?


At its core, a docking station is a specialized device meticulously designed to safely house fluid applicators when they are idle. But its role goes beyond mere storage. The docking station is an integral part of the applicator’s lifecycle, facilitating its protection against potential damage, shielding it from contaminants, assisting in its preparation for subsequent uses and averting the detrimental effects of drying out.

Core Benefits of Using a Docking Station


Harnessing the potential of a docking station translates to several tangible benefits, from prolonging your applicators’ lifespan to ensuring their readiness whenever they are summoned into action. Here’s a more in-depth look at these invaluable advantages.

Damage Prevention


In busy manufacturing settings, applicators left astray can easily fall victim to physical harm, from minor dents to critical damages that can render them useless. Such damage could lead to inaccuracies in fluid application, potentially jeopardizing product quality. A docking station offers a sanctuary for your applicator, cradling it securely and keeping it safe.

Contamination Prevention


In open environments, even the minutest airborne contaminants can risk the fluid’s purity within the applicator. Those impurities can severely degrade your application’s quality, potentially inflating production costs due to rework or scrapped components. By enveloping the applicator, a docking station acts as a protective shield, barring these contaminants from causing any problems.

Dry Out Prevention


An applicator’s performance can nosedive if it dries out. Often, the signs of drying out aren’t overtly visible, making it a silent but detrimental issue. Even a partially dried out applicator can spell trouble for application consistency. Here’s where the docking station shines. By filling it with the pertinent chemical or its base solvent, the applicator can be securely stored upside-down, ensuring that its moisture levels remain optimal.

Applicator Preparation


Every applicator requires detailed preparation before its deployment. This “wet-out” process checks that the applicator is optimally saturated and primed for its next task. The docking station can play a pivotal role in this preparatory phase, aiding the applicator’s thorough wetness and confirming its readiness, thereby guaranteeing uniform and precise applications every single time.

Do I Need a Docking Station?


If precision, consistency and efficiency are the cornerstones of your manufacturing or production ethos, then a docking station is not just an asset; it’s a necessity. Here’s a look at how a docking station can significantly bolster your process:

  • Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Seamlessly integrates into workflows, facilitating rapid storage and retrieval of applicators.
  • Substantial Cost Savings: Curtails frequent replacements by protecting applicators from damages and contaminants.
  • Unwavering Quality Assurance: Consistently maintains applicators in their prime condition, translating to top-tier fluid applications.
  • Minimized Rework: Protects against potential pitfalls, drastically reducing rework scenarios.
  • Streamlined Compliance: Fosters a pristine and organized workspace, aligning with stringent quality standards.
  • Time Efficiency: Swiftly expedite the preparation, storage and maintenance processes of applicators.
  • Extended Applicator Longevity: Prolongs the functional life of your applicators by shielding them from potential harm.
  • Versatile Integration: Adaptable to both manual and automated fluid application systems.

Finding the Right Fluid Dispensing Accessory for You


A docking station is much more than an accessory; it’s a vital cog in the machinery of fluid application. Whether you’re at the helm of a manual operation or are steering a semi- or fully automated system, a docking station is a non-negotiable asset.

Designetics offers docking stations as standard accessories with both the Handheld Remote and the Applicator Track systems. You can also order docking stations individually for manual processes that do not use these specific systems.

About Designetics, Inc.


Designetics stands at the forefront of fluid application innovation. With offerings like docking stations accompanying both the Handheld Remote and the Applicator Track, or available as standalone entities, we tailor solutions to fit your precise needs. Our unwavering commitment is to exceed your expectations by delivering unparalleled fluid applicators, systems, and ancillary tools. Embark on a journey with us, and let’s co-create solutions that elevate your fluid application processes to new heights.