Is waterless offset printing a foolproof offset?

In recent years, with the continuous improvement of ink technology, equipment digitization and printing plate formulation, waterless offset printing has been rapidly developed, and even has been fundamentally changed. However, in China, especially packaging and printing enterprises, there is little understanding of waterless offset printing, and it has been rare to carry out waterless offset printing. In fact, under the premise of ensuring environmental conditions, equipment precision, and ink characteristics, waterless offset printing is simple and can be compared to fool-type offset printing.

Where is the basis of the fool-like operation?

The so-called "waterless" offset printing is relative to conventional "wet" offset printing. Traditional offset printing uses the principle that oil (ink) and water (dampening solution) are incompatible by oil and water to replicate the image on the printing press.

However, it is difficult and complicated to handle the relative balance of the two liquids on a printing press, and it is difficult to ensure the quality stability of the continuously printed product. Moreover, during the printing process, the fountain solution repels the ink in a relative manner, and as a result, the partially contaminated liquid remains in the device, causing pollution to the environment.

The waterless offset printing relies on the silicone oil coating to repel the ink, does not require fountain solution, does not use water, alcohol or alcohol liquid, is a green printing technology, and has high printing quality.

Behind the simple and easy to operate is environmental protection

Waterless offset printing does not use solvents such as alcohol. There is no water bucket device on the equipment, so there is no need for wastewater treatment and no pollution to the water source. The application of solvent and chemicals is reduced or eliminated during the plate making process of the waterless offset printing plate, and the VOCs discharge is small; Compared to water offset printing, the waterless offset press has a lower noise level.

What is the quality?

The waterless offset printing has high resolution and is suitable for random frequency modulation network printing of small dots; in addition, because there is no dampening solution, the dot enlargement is reduced, the color density is increased, and the overprinting is easier; the waterless offset printing also increases the color gamut space. To make the color richer and more conspicuous; the consistent ink density can be affected by the printing speed, and the printing color density is basically unchanged.

Fool-like operation results are not fools

Waterless offset printing eliminates the need for fountain solution and dampening water bucket and water roller system, reducing printing costs;

It does not need to adjust the ink balance, it can also save preparation time and improve production efficiency;

Overprinting and chromatic aberration are easy to control, reducing waste in the production process;

The quality is continuously stable, and the design requirements can be met in a short time after starting up, reducing paper consumption;

The device has a simple structure and is easy to operate, and the operator does not need training, and the operation is quick and convenient.

How about foreign applications?

In recent years, the use of waterless offset printing in Japan and western developed countries has increased, especially in the field of label printing.

According to the European Waterless Offset Association's journal Waterless Current, the proportion of offset printing in Europe's self-adhesive label printing is about 10% to 15%, while waterless offset printing accounts for 30% of the total offset printing.

That is to say, if the total amount of self-adhesive materials in Europe is 5 billion square meters in 2016 (data from AWA), waterless offset printing consumes 150 to 225 million square meters, which is the total amount of self-adhesive materials. 3% to 4.5%, and this ratio is still increasing at a rate of 10% to 20% per year.

Waterless offset printing belongs to the “currently in progress” technology, and various innovations and breakthroughs are also dizzying. In the next few weeks, Label Jun will pay attention to this new field with everyone.