Consumables
B&K Offsetdruck GmbH employs Contiweb
Thursday 06. December 2018 - Company also decreases annual silicone transportation by 85%, saving fuel consumption and reducing warehouse inventory
Contiweb, a specialist of state-of-the-art technologies for printing, and advanced drying and web-handling products, has today announced that B&K Offsetdruck GmbH, an international print service provider, has halved its silicone use since introducing a Contiweb Fluid Applicator (CFA) into its printing presses.
The company is currently using a Compacta C16 printing press and integrated the CFA, which has provided immediate benefits.
Hans Geideck, Technical Manager at B&K Offsetdruck, explains: “Our presses are equipped with conventional silicone solutions which typically use a ready mixed liquid of 30% silicone, 70% water. This can often prove expensive, especially in the current backdrop of rising silicone prices imposed by manufacturers.
“In contrast, the CFA uses pure silicone oil, water and surfactant. This is mixed in the press in real-time and is more cost-effective as the amount of silicone required is minimal. In fact, within a few months of integrating the CFA, we have substantially reduced our silicone oil consumption by a massive 50%.”
The CFA silicone mixture produces large drops of oil which are slowly absorbed by the substrate compared to the fine droplets of a silicone emulsion. This means that less oil is required to achieve a good lubrication, crucially streamlining the operational cost.
Reducing transportation by 85%
Beyond the financial benefits, B&K Offsetdruck has unlocked the door to greater ecological advantages using the CFA system. Geideck explains: “Thanks to Contiwebs technology, weve reduced our annual transportation of containers by approximately 85%. This has also seen us lower our fuel consumption and our warehouse is also under less pressure for space. According to our calculations, this investment will pay for itself in two years.
“Our belief in the CFA is such that we have already invested in the CFA to be integrated into two additional presses by the end of this year.”
Rutger Jansen, Sales Director at Contiweb, concludes: “Cases like B&K Offsetdruck demonstrate the tremendous production efficiencies that companies can secure using the CFA. The huge time and transport savings, as well as the ability to seamlessly integrate the CFA into existing print lines, offers printing plants the opportunity to increase competitiveness and safeguard their business against cutthroat competition.”