Air humidification for print shops

Optimum humidity is an important production factor for print shops. Serious disruption to the production process can occur in offset printing, digital printing, rotary printing and in the packaging industry without additional air humidification:

Electrostatics

If paper is too dry during processing at low humidity, electrostatic charges are created. The paper sticks together and stops running smoothly through the printing press. This also applies to synthetic materials such as PVC or polypropylene.

Paper distortion

If humidity in the paper storeroom or print shop is too low, the material releases moisture into the room. This leads to unwanted changes in the dimensions of the paper. The paper then is no longer perfectly flat and cannot be processed efficiently. Doubling, register differences, wrinkling and distortion are difficulties frequently encountered as a result of low humidity.

Quality

Optimum levels of relative air humidity are assured year around with direct room air humidification. This helps to standardise the printing process, reduce spoilage, prevent machine stoppages, shorten production times and cut costs. The optimum equilibrium moisture for processing paper is between 50% and 60% of relative humidity.

Additional benefit:  standardised process water

As an added benefit, the pure water produced for the air humidification can also be used as standardised process water to supply the printing presses in offset printing. Purified water protects the printing machines from corrosion, reduces operating costs and ensures consistent print quality:

  • no toning and stripping, because of the constant water hardness and PH-value
  • extended service life of the print cylinders and rollers
  • lower share of isopropanol in the fountain solution reduces costs

Air humidification Printing industry Heidelberg

"We have been relying on DRAABE air humidification for many years now."

Uwe Galm, Head of Service Operations

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Summary of DRAABE air humidification benefits in the printing industry.

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