Consumables
New Printing Blankets from CONTI-AIR
Thursday 22. May 2008 - With the ENTROPIA-TR 2.0, NEON-TR and STRATOS-TR printing blankets, ContiTech has developed no fewer than three new products in the CONTI-AIR series for perfect printing results. At drupa 2008 in Düsseldorf (booth A79 in hall 6) the innovative printing blankets - manufactured exclusively in Germany - will be presented to the international public.
ENTROPIA-TR 2.0: Newspaper printing blanket with Air2 Technology
Drawing on the proven CONTI AIR technology and an innovative design principle – the so-called Air2 technology – ContiTech Elastomer Coatings has developed the JOURNAL-TR newspaper printing blanket. Engineers at ContiTech have endowed this, the successor to the established ENTROPIA-TR, with an additional compressible layer under the cover stock. Air2 technology makes for reduced transport performance wherever the job demands such, e.g. in the case of shaftless drives and satellite designs. It also provides the same in the case of critical web routing in rubber/rubber configurations. Thanks to its unique design, the ENTROPIA-TR 2.0 unfolds exceptional stability in classical, shaft-driven machines. This is achieved by means of the reduced sinking so typical of all CONTI AIR newspaper printing blankets. Other advantages: Engineered as it is, the new blanket generates much less of a temperature build-up during printing and thus caters to an increasingly frequent demand among coldset users. “Its running temperatures are extremely low. This minimizes swelling, linting, ink buildup and other problems typically occurring in newspaper printing,” notes Joachim Herrmann, head of printing blanket development at ContiTech Elastomer Coatings. What is more, perfect machine configuration is no problem with the ENTROPIA-TR 2.0. It ensures uniform engine power consumption in the case of shaftless drives and guarantees stable production conditions.
The ENTROPIA-TR 2.0 is the logical next step for ContiTech Elastomer Coatings in the evolution of its CONTI-AIR coldset printing blanket line. This innovative and stable product is ideally suited to the requirements of newspaper offset presses.
NEON-TR: Heatset printing blanket for all classes
Still another new development is the CONTI-AIR NEON-TR. It is also based on ContiTechs innovative Air2 technology, whereby Air2 always indicates the use of two compressible layers. The printing blanket can be used for all size classes and has shown itself to be a real pro in large-format printing. “An outstanding feature here is extremely precise print-off, with even ink rendition on both the top and bottom side,” explains Herrmann “The surface structure of the printing blanket is virtually dirt resistant. This prevents any buildup of dust and ink – on the underside as well.” Thats not all, though. The surfaces of the NEON-TR are also perfectly suited for long run-times. Paper jamming is minimized so that the printing blanket can easily go for longer periods without “washing”. This also effectively counteracts typical heatset problems like ghosting and dot vanishing. “The NEON-TR limits the dot dwindle effect,” adds Herrmann. The result: Even when the printing blanket is in use for a longer period, the impression is more exact and the printing machines productivity is boosted.
STRATOS-TR: New varnishing blanket for UV and water-based varnishes
The new CONTI-AIR STRATOS-TR is ideally suited for smooth-flowing application of varnish, above all in the printing of packaging. Selective spot varnishes are increasingly in demand for the high-quality printing of catalogs, brochures and packaging material. Image segments can be highlighted and areas intended for subsequent pasting can be spared varnishing.
The STRATOS-TR allows for trouble-free stripping of such areas as are to be reserved for follow-up application of adhesives. These open areas can easily be cut into the printing blanket and later removed – both by hand and automatically with plotters.
In printing operations CONTI-AIR STRATOS-TR yields a uniform varnishing result. This is ensured by means of a polymer layer developed specifically for transferring aqueous dispersion and UV varnishes. It makes possible excellent degrees of gloss and minimal ink buildup.
“The STRATOS-TR was developed for use with UV varnishes. And so one of its chief characteristics is a high resistance to the substances found in these varnishes and to the corresponding cleansing agents,” explains Herrmann.
With these three new products, ContiTech is fielding printing blankets that set new standards in terms of flexibility, efficiency and precision. It further strengthens the CONTI-AIR brand. The company is the second-largest manufacturer of printing blankets worldwide and the only one producing all its blankets in Germany. “As declaration of origin, Made in Germany is regarded as a seal of quality in the branch. Customers can look to us not only for high-tech production and first-class quality, but also for new standards,” notes Dr. Thomas Perkovi´c, head of ContiTech Elastomer Coatings. Close to eighty percent of the printing blankets are exported, to customers all around the globe.