News

Getting the consumables choice wrong can come at a significant price for printers. It’s a complex area that requires a bit of thought – it’s not just cost per unit that needs to be considered, but also how the product will be used.

“There are products available that could adversely affect a printer’s total spend and print quality,” says Stephen Hannon, managing director of Böttcher UK.

For example, printers that use isopropanol alcohol (IPA) in their dampening solution should specify grade one IPA that is 99.6% pure. Using lower grades can have an impact on print quality in the long run as some grades contain significant impurities that could chemically attack certain pigments. “There is also potential to inadvertently purchase diluted IPA,” adds Hannon. “This will certainly affect the printers’ spend as they will have to consume more.”

Green developments
Environmental considerations are also leading to developments in fount solutions – printers are choosing fount solutions that use low or zero IPA. Commonly referred to as ‘alcohol-free’ or ‘low-alcohol’, the founts use non-volatile glycols instead of IPA. Although glycols are still classified as dihydric alcohol, the distinction is their low volatility.

Unlike IPA, which has a high volatility and so escapes into the air very quickly, glycols remain active for longer and are biodegradable. However, it is worth remembering that once the fount solution has been used on the press, it will contain other chemicals that cannot be disposed of.

When looking for a product, a rule of thumb is to check that it’s FOGRA approved. This is particularly important when working with IPA-free founts as it indicates that the product can work well with other equipment.

“Some glycols can cause significant damper roller swell, which will result in poor ink water balance, thereby reducing print quality and increasing paper waste,” says Hannon.

Being specific about the choice of product should be a priority, as this will help maximise efficiency. “Quality is a key consideration for buyers of consumables – this includes the quality of the actual products, as well as the service back-up,” says Emma Isichei, Sun Chemical’s UK and Ireland marketing director.

Although they are sometimes overlooked as being a vital part of the print process, Isichei adds that “consumable products underpin the effective and efficient running of any pressroom and, therefore, it is vital to have a reliable supplier that can offer the most suitable product”. 

---

WHAT'S NEW IN PRESSROOM CONSUMABLES
• Earlier this month, Böttcher UK introduced patented technology
for newspaper printers. The Böttcher Molex system is designed to eliminate bio film growth within
the fount recirculation system, which is achieved without the use of biocides
• Flint Group has launched a range of consumables suitable for IPA-free printing. The K+E Hydrofast AFS 336 fount ensures no compatibility issues within the printing process, and as a result it is possible to achieve an exceptionally high quality. Other benefits include
lower DE figures when printing to
ISO 12647-2
• Bousfield Holdings sold a controlling interest in Dutch subsidiary Bousfield to a European consortium, that includes the current management, for an undisclosed sum in November last year. The company, formerly PCO until acquired by Bousfield Holdings two years ago, is a Dutch manufacturer of pressroom chemistry, coatings, premium silicones and anti-set-off powders