Partner Focus Opportunities for a sustainable greenfield printing plant W
eb-offset with electron beam curing operates solvent-free and without VOC emissions making it the most healthy and sustainable printing process of today, but there is much more to it.
With the actual prices of natural gas skyrocketing and the risk of shutting down printing operations due to scarcity or limitations on gas supply, two important reasons have been added why investing in Web- Offset with energy curing is worth considering. In the June issue of Converter Magazine, we informed about energy savings and carbon footprint reduction. In this article, we take a look at all the benefits of the DG-AUXO web-offset printing operations when considering investing in new printing equipment for a greenfield printing plant. With the actual dire situation of the energy market, not a decision to be taken lightly.
SHORTAGE OF NATURAL GAS
The actual shortage of natural gas in most parts of Europe has an economical as well an operational impact on printing operations utilizing natural gas for hot-air drying systems and incinerators. Not only prices for natural gas and other fossil fuels are going through the roof, making printing operations based on these energy sources extremely expensive, also the availability of natural gas is expected to be limited by a number of national governments. If such measures lead to the forced shutdown of print production, even for a limited time, it can be devastating for the printers concerned. Efficiency optimised air-heaters and regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) will not prevent a possible shutdown as they still depend on gas for powering thermal boilers as well as for maintaining RTO operating temperatures. If boilers depend on heat- recovery from RTOs, the problem gets even worse.
EB CURING, THE TECHNOLOGY TO EMBRACE To move away completely from the use of natural gas, some alternatives are available. The most obvious is electron beam (EB) curing, especially when it comes to food-safe packaging. Other available forms of energy curing include UV and LED-UV, although both have their limitations regarding robustness, food safety, heat impact, and production volume output. Due to their size and higher price, electron beam units are always operated as end-curing-station. End-curing facilitates wet-trap printing of all colors. Paste inks, typically used for offset, are favorable because of their higher tack in comparison to liquid inks. DG press designed the DG-AUXO web-offset press series with the latest in modern servo drive technology to facilitate wet-trap printing on film substrates with the highest register accuracy. DG- AUXO web-offset press with seven colours offset for
ECG and a downstream flexo unit for wet-trap white or varnish application, at the end all together cured by an electron beam.
Web-offset presses with energy curing are operated in a far less complex production environment compared to printing technologies utilizing hot-air drying. Web-offset operations are accommodated in a rather basic building, avoiding major CAPEX for premises and building, periphery equipment, protection measures and certifications, as well as avoiding high costs of technicians to handle and maintain hot-air drying and RTO like equipment.
INVESTMENT IN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE In roto or flexo facilities where efficient, modern infrastructure and organisation are present and optimised oxidising systems still have sufficient spare capacity available, decisions for realising production expansion easily go in favour of the established and known printing technology. Even despite considering the costs of complying with strict regulations. These cases leave a missed opportunity for savings on costs for energy and several sustainability
advantages.It is important to be aware that with the investments in a completely new printing facility, also known as greenfield plant, the metrics shift even more in favor of web-offset with EB curing. Starting from scratch with the development and realisation of a new facility, infrastructure, and organisation without the need to extend or integrate with existing infrastructure for solvent handling and incineration, offers a far less complex scenario and is an ideal opportunity to take a big step in terms of sustainability and cost-efficiency.
Opting for web-offset with EB curing, including the required building and facilities will come at a reduced investment level. The DG-AUXO web-offset press series with EB curing offers a range of advantages, especially due to its environmentally friendly characteristics and economic efficiency. The following advantages apply when starting a web-offset facility from scratch: ONo need for ATEX explosion-free zoning nor its certifications.
ONo need for solvent-based ink mixing and dispensing plant.
ONo need for hot air nor all the related equipment like a thermal oil boiling plant and certifications.
ONo need for incinerators like RTOs nor solvent recovery systems.
ONo need for (underground) solvent tanks and corresponding certifications.
ONo need for solvent washing systems for cleaning tools and parts.
ONo need for special fire-delaying walls and ceilings. ONo need for liquid-tight floors, which are required when working with liquids alike SB-inks and solvents.
ONo need for a large warehouse for the storage of numerous engraved printing cylinders.
ONo need for a complex fire extinguisher installation at a capacity required for solvent-based printing operations.
ONo need to monitor labor safety related to the use of solvents.
OA far less expensive fire insurance. THE GREEN OPPORTUNITY
What is required to operate a web offset machine with energy curing? Besides the press itself, including ink curing equipment, it requires a closed-loop recirculating chill water supply unit that runs just on electricity. In addition, you will need an ozone-to-air duct to emit ozone from the corona system, which is allowed without restrictions. Finally, depending on the type of ink curing technology, a nitrogen supply system for inertization of the ink polymerisation area is needed.
Of course, you can make your investment in a web-offset machine even more beneficial for both your business and the environment by compensating for its electrical power consumption. This can be done by installing sufficient solar panels on the roof or elsewhere on the premises. This matches the perception of a true sustainable printing plant. One other important advantage is offset’s fast and clean plate-making process. Providing state-of-the-art lead times and the highest print quality at a price per sqm, far below flexo and rotogravure. From the previous summary of benefits, it is obvious that for a greenfield plant, the DG-AUXO web-offset press series with electron beam curing is the sustainable alternative that is worth your attention and serious consideration.
Xwww.dgpressservices.com
www.convertermag.com
July/August 2022
39
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