Material such as paper, plastic or textile normally contain an equal number of positive and negative charges - that is, they are electrically balanced. Friction can disturb this balance, causing the material to become electrically charged.

The electrical charge (static) will exert a force on nearby charged objects or a grounded conductor. Among the problems caused by this force are :

• Dust clinging to product
• Product clinging to itself, rollers, machine beds or frames
• Material tearing, jamming or curling
• Sheet feeding problems
• Hazardous sparks or shocks

Charged conductors (like metals) discharge completely when grounded. Insulators (like plastics) don't conduct electricity and can't discharge when grounded. Grounded brushes or tinsel often have little effect on these surface.

EXAIR's static eliminators (called ionizers) can eliminate the charge. These shockless ionizers are electrically powered and produce a bulk of positive and negative ions. The charged surface attracts the appropriate number of positive or negative ions from the ionizer to become neutral (discharge)