Consumables
Printing Blankets for Climate Protection
Monday 31. August 2009 - Scientific study documents outstanding CO2 footprint for ContiTech printing blankets Calendering process sets new standards for climate footprint Certification by the University of East Westphalia-Lippe
ContiTech Elastomer Coatings is the worlds first manufacturer to have a carbon footprint drawn up for printing blankets. According to the study, the production of ContiTechs printing blankets generates up to 70% less climatically detrimental CO2 emissions compared to world standard printing blankets. These are the certified findings of a scientific analysis carried out by the University of East Westphalia-Lippe. “ContiTech AG is thus the innovation leader for environmental and climate protection in the field of printing blankets. With our products, we make a substantial contribution to climate-friendly printing,” says Heiko Eymer, general manager of the Elastomer Coatings business unit, explaining the significance of the findings.
Enhanced climate protection thanks to calendering technology
The outstanding climate footprint is made possible by the calendering process ContiTech has used to produce printing blankets for several years. The rubber is formed into a slab of the required thickness using steel rollers, so solvents need no longer be added. Further advantages of this process in comparison to the world standard: It uses much less energy than the coating process, in which a solvent is added to the rubber so that the rubber solution can be applied uniformly to a fabric to create the printing blanket. The solvent in this process is then recovered, which requires further energy.
Certified carbon footprint
In order to determine the carbon footprint of the two printing blankets CONTI-AIR LITHO-HC and PHOENIX Sapphire, the energy required for the entire manufacturing process was determined and converted into a comparative CO2 value. The production process uses primarily steam and electricity. The emission values for the raw materials used are also taken into account, from the extraction up to delivery to the plant, and for their pretreatment. Based on this calculation, the coating process generates some 10 kg of CO2 per square meter. For the CONTI-AIR LITHO-HC printing blanket, it was possible to reduce CO2 emissions by some 70% compared to the world standard printing blanket, and by 35% for the PHOENIX Sapphire. The scientific monitoring and certification of the CO2 footprint for printing blankets was carried out by the department of Environmental Engineering department at the University of East Westphalia-Lippe.
Advantages for the printing industry – Climate protection at no additional cost
Eco-friendly and climate-compatible printing is one of the main challenges facing the printing industry. In all production, material and process areas, solutions are in the works to make it possible to make printed products in a more environmentally and climate-friendly manner. “The printing blanket manufacturers are also being involved in this task, since ever more eco-conscious printing plants need the CO2 emission values for our printing blankets. We can now provide these scientifically determined values,” says Dr. Thomas Perkovic, head of the printing blanket segment, explaining the benefits for the printing plants and pointing out a further important advantage: “The customers dont pay anything extra for the climate-friendliness of our products. At the same price, our technologies protect the environment, climate and the pocketbook.”
ContiTech stands for sustainable solutions
Products of ContiTech AG, the world’s largest rubber and plastics technology specialist, make a substantial contribution to solving social challenges. And this is where Heinz-Gerhard Wente, Executive Board chairman of ContiTech AG, sees the strengths of the company: “ContiTech gets involved. Our products can be found wherever the call in industry is for sustainable environmental solutions, from climate protection through to noise isolation and reduced emissions. We view our mission as that of consistently contributing to enhanced comfort and environmental protection, a reduction in noise and a higher quality of life. We are to be found wherever the future is in the process of being shaped – with our climate-friendly printing blankets especially in the printing industry.”