An electrostatic charge is created on the surface of the material as it travels through the machine with continued contact and separation events, complicated by the speed of the process. The surface charge can build to potentially hazardous levels at the print station where the use of solvent based inks creates a dangerous situation. A spark from an electrostatic discharge can ignite the solvent/oxygen mixture, causing a fire. The ATEX approved anti-static bars neutralises these static charges before and after the print station allowing for static free, safe, printing. Simco-Ion also recommends static control equipment at the rewind station, to avoid electrical shocks to operators.