In recent years, waterless printing has been reinvented for even more sustainability and expanded UV curing applications. The process has long held significant environmental advantages with the elimination of offset press dampening and its harmful chemistry.
Today, the waterless printing process stands poised to capture more market share through a solvent free ink system which eliminates almost all VOCs related to press washing.
Commonly known as “water-washable” ink, only silicone waterless offset printing plates from Presstek and Toray will work with the new inks. This ink system substitutes VOC laden conventional press washes with a water and surfactant (soap) solution that effectively cleans ink from the press.
When the system was first introduced, its chief liability was the high alkalinity of the surfactant. Despite this liability, printers in Japan, who long used waterless printing as the standard for environmentally sound and simplified print production, were quick to embrace the new system.
Now the system is ready for roll-out with the introduction of a new surfactant developed by Toray Industries. Japanese printer members of the Waterless Printing Association will reveal for the first time the trial results of the new solution.
Meanwhile UV cured waterless printing has become the preferred means of printing difficult substrates. Once limited to rotary label presses and CD/DVD printers equipped for waterless, UV curing is now capturing a larger share in the sheetfed offset market. As a result, UV waterless printers are enjoying significant gains in productivity and quality.
These topics and more will form the heart of a fast-paced half-day luncheon program to be held at the IPEX exhibition site. Venue is the Ipex Exhibition Centre, Rooms 3 & 4, Piazza Concourse from 12 noon to 5 pm.
Click here to register online for this important event.
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