2026-03-22
From March 2026, we are sharing a new lens wipe cycle for fibre mark bays in coastal plants. This schedule addresses requests from Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha for clearer marking during humid, salty weeks.
Bay operators along South Africa’s coastline raised practical issues about lens fouling caused by salt air, condensation and high humidity. Standard inland routines, often set up for Bloemfontein or Polokwane, do not keep up with conditions faced daily in Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha. Salt in the air and mild steel racks exposed to sea spray both lead to faster haze build-up. As a result, marks on acrylic and anodised aluminium go fuzzy well before week’s end if bays are only wiped once every morning.
Operators in coastal zones now need to add a lens wipe at the end of every shift, not just the first start-up. This change answers plant feedback about drop-offs in mark clarity halfway through a double or triple shift. A quick microfibre wipe, using the cloths supplied with your bay or sourced locally, helps minimise salt and moisture build-up. Sites experiencing morning condensation, as can happen during coastal Gauteng cold fronts, may add a midday wipe. Compare this with the less frequent intervals in inland regions, detailed on our specsheets for reference.
If your bay is anywhere near the coast or you regularly notice fogged lenses and blurred marks, update your posted cleaning chart. Brief every operator on the revised cycle so it fits naturally into both daily and rotating shifts. For sites with high operator turnover, include a lens wipe tick-box on shift handover or job sheets. This small admin step helps prevent missed wipe cycles and keeps marking quality high all week. The full wipe procedure, including best cloth types and handling, is available by emailing our team at equip@featureequipment.co.za.
At your next weekly bay inspection, use the new cycle as your baseline for machine checks. Reinforce the process by sharing feedback from the floor with all operators. Our team can supply printable instructions and help with wipes stockists local to your region. See Bays for more on plant-specific routines and machine fit.
After adopting the updated cleaning cycle, log any changes in mark sharpness or fogging after each shift. Operators should record unexpected clarity drops or residue. This practice helps you spot early signs of salt or humidity issues before they slow down production. If you see persistent lens fog or uneven marking, consider adjusting the cleaning interval or review storage for open racks and acrylics. Share any recurring issues with us so we can refine guidance for your specific bay floor challenges.
For technical detail on material-specific marking and climate-related maintenance, browse our specsheet notes or reach out by email for tailored advice.
This cleaning update forms part of our ongoing support for South African plant teams working in variable climates. We regularly add practical updates to our press notes including bay safety, filter changes and operator tips from the Sunnyrock machine hall and regional showrooms.
For any questions on your own bay’s site conditions, or to request a copy of the full lens wipe cycle, email equip@featureequipment.co.za. Let us know your plant location and typical shift schedule so we can advise on intervals and cloth supply. We can also suggest training or extra operator notes to suit your production rhythm.
equip@featureequipment.co.za · Sunnyrock, Germiston
