(pressebox) Northeim, 16.06.2011 – More than 100 guests, interesting talks and vibrant discussions among specialists: At the 6th CONTI-AIR(R) Symposium of ContiTech Elastomer Coatings in Northeim, the focus was on heatset offset printing. Experts from the printing industry had come to Northeim from all corners of Europe to discuss the opportunities and technical excellence of this printing process. „I’m delighted with the huge turnout. What started off five years ago as a small customer event has now become a major European-wide get-together for the industry,“ declared Dr. Thomas Perkovi?, head of the Printing Blanket segment at ContiTech Elastomer Coatings, after the event, which was also the kick-off of the „100th Anniversary of ContiTech Printing Blankets“.
High-performance printing blanket for a better register
In their talks and presentations, renowned specialists from the printing industry dealt with possibilities for further improving results in heatset offset printing. „Heatset is the ultimate in offset printing – for printing blankets as well,“ said Jan Jungmann, head of printing blanket research and development at ContiTech Elastomer Coatings. He noted the milestones in the development of a heatset printing blanket, drawing on the example of the new CONTI-AIR(R) NEON blue TR, the printing blanket for large-format and rapid heatset offset presses. The blanket’s design prevent paper from being severely deformed in the nip. This guarantees good register on wide-web paper as well as low machine web tension and low temperatures on the plate and the printing blanket. A further advantage is that the printing blanket cover can better absorb water, so it does a better job of transporting paper dust off the web in the case of recycled and B paper types.
Measuring technology helps cut costs
Many of those attending the symposium appeared quite impressed by the measuring technology supplied by Nip Control. The company’s products measure the pressure directly in the roller and impression cylinder nip. And the measuring devices are easy to use. In the past, solely the height of the printing plate and blanket were measured via the bearer ring. Printers now have a pressure reading in newton per square centimeter to work with. This helps stabilize the process. „Correctly adjusted rollers reduce the cost for electric power (by 59%), for ink (by 27%) and for fountain solutions (by 15%),“ reported Stefan Wegdell from Nip Control.
Lower water consumption thanks to coating
Achim Siebert, general manager of Weros Technology GmbH, presented a new kind of coating system for printing rollers. The Teflon-like material (fluororubber) makes the rollers completely smooth and water-repellent. The printing operation can attain a free-rolling state more quickly and with less water. There is less waste of paper. Siebert referred to a 30-percent reduction in water consumption and better stability in alcohol-free wet offset. He noted that cleaning was also a whole lot less work. The coating is suitable above all for rollers in sheet-fed systems. This had the participants perking up their ears.
Two machines, one print image
Rob Berndsen of the Dutch heatset printing house Senefelder Misset stressed the importance of coordinated processes in the printing industry. The magazine printing house strikes off 45 million metric tons of paper a year, he reported, and it was thus important to be able to simultaneously print the same quality on different machines. Printing blankets have an important role to play in all of this. „We are always open for new ideas if a quality improvement can be achieved thereby,“ said Berndsen. „Today we print mainly with the NEON blue TR printing blanket from ContiTech.“
Stable processes with the right plate
In his presentation, Dr. Stefan Kull from Kodak AG dealt chiefly with the process stability that modern offset printing plates make possible. Depending on the application, the customers can resort to positive or negative printing plates. The main differences: Positive plates ensure a maximum resolution and thus optimum print definition; negative plates offer longer service life.
Rise in cost of raw materials increases the price of printing inks
Dr. Fabian Köhn, technical director of Siegwerk Druckfarben AG, discussed with the guests the requirements to be met by inks used in heatset printing. Interestingly: Depending on the kind of paper, the amount of ink required can be twice as high. Köhn pointed out that printing houses also had to take into consideration the steep rise in raw material costs for natural resins, an important constituent of printing inks.
Kick-off of 100th Anniversary of ContiTech Printing Blanket
The kick-off event for the major anniversary of ContiTech’s printing blanket production was also part of the symposium. After a festive reception, the guests had an opportunity to set off on a trip through time covering 100 years of printing history and were able to obtain key information in an exhibition. Rounding off the event were a tour of the plant and a golf tournament the next day at the GolfResort Hardenberg.