Pressroom
Prisco announces Go Green Initiative at Grafitalia 09
Wednesday 25. March 2009 - Presenting new opportunities for printers to reduce the impact of their pressroom operations on the environment while improving quality
Prisco (Printers Service) will be introducing its GO GREEN WITH PRISCO initiative at Grafitalia 09, offering printers a range of strategies, products and consultative services to lower environmental impact. Strategies might include changes to work procedures, improved chemical management technology, changes to products utilized, upgrades to or replacement of equipment, integration of recycling programs, and reduction of overall chemistry consumption.
Mr. Jean Decoene, Business Manager of Prisco Europe, says: “For over 25 years, Prisco has been the Number 1 supplier in providing environmentally friendly solutions to the printing industry. We provide total Water Management Solutions to standardize the incoming water quality. Our top-ranked fountain concentrates provide excellent ink/water balance with improved print quality in alcohol-free printing. Priscos Waste Reduction Equipment closes the loop by increasing Press Performance and reducing the environmental waste.”
Together with its Italian distributor Digraph, Prisco will be presenting the following new product innovations at Grafitalia in hall 9, stand D50-E49:
Water Management : MiniFloTM
The Prisco MiniFlo Series are compact, powerful systems that generate process water for optimal impact on the press. Process water is stable, consistent and supports the critical interactions between the fountain solution, inks and paper used on the press. Controlling this key variable in the dampening system will minimize operating problems, reduce waste and improve print quality. MiniFlo removes chemicals and minerals that can cause hardness and increase alkalinity. Its unique post-treatment cartridge extracts dissolved gases in the water.
Pressroom Chemistry: Alcohol-Free Fountain Concentrates
Environmental concerns continue to put pressure on printers to reduce the release of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) is a popular dampening solution additive that contains many VOCs. Alcoholfree Fountain Concentrates are substituting the need for IPA on Continuous Dampening Systems for Offset Printing Presses. In addition to its environmental benefits, alcohol-free printing offers lower ink and water settings along with the ability to print a given density using an ink film that isnt diluted by alcohol. The result is better quality printing with sharper dots and less tendency for emulsification.
“Fountain solution typically represents less than 1% of a printers expenditures, says Jean Decoene, but its impact is tremendous. It has a real effect on a printers productivity and reproduction quality.”
At Grafitalia, Prisco will introduce several new economical fountain concentrates that raise the bar on performance for sheetfed, heatset and coldset web applications. These are low VOC fountain solutions that have been formulated to increase press-operating latitude with todays paper stocks and ink formulations. Printing plants will see significant, measurable increases in productivity thanks to faster start-ups, faster makeready times and less paper waste.
Priscos latest developments offer a wider window in water/ink-balance and are safe for use on all plates. Questar CTP 122 EU and 185 EU are compliant with the directives from most important press manufacturers. Both products are certified by FOGRA. They will provide high quality printing with better gloss, higher contrast and reduced dot gain with lower ink consumption while reducing your VOC numbers.
Minimizing chemical waste with FloClear and Fount-N-Kleer
Prisco will also introduce the next generation of its fountain solution filtration and recycling system at Grafitalia, the new FloClear. Fountain solution treatment is a critical component of the GO GREEN WITH PRISCO initiative.
FloClear circulates contaminated fountain solution through its multi-stage processing system, returning it in fresh condition to a central chilling unit. The system eliminates fountain solution contamination from paper, ink and solvents. This results in greatly reduced chemical waste, less total fountain solution used, and improved press control and printing quality. Chiller maintenance is greatly reduced, resulting in high press productivity.
For smaller presses or individual printing units Prisco is presenting Fount-N-Kleer. This compact fountain solution filtration system incorporates a unique high pressure, high flow pump that recirculates the fountain solution through the two stages of filtration, independent of the circulator pump. The system is easily fitted on any chiller unit, optimizes press productivity and ultimately reduces press maintenance considerably.
Mr. Jean Decoene concludes, “We strongly believe that maintenance is the key to consistent quality. Prisco has a wide range of maintenance products for use between and during press runs. These solutions clearly enhance the reliability of press performance, quickly paying for themselves in cost-savings, quality improvement, reduced waste and a smaller environmental footprint.”