Useful tips
Importance of Printing Supplies
Choosing low quality printing supplies may cause the following problems:
Piling
Piling means ink and paper dust built up on the surface of rollers and plates. The main reason is the poor transferability of ink. Therefore, we can apply some additives or thinner to resolve the problem. Moreover, ink drying too fast and incomplete cleaning may also cause piling.
Plate scumming and tinting
Plate scumming and tinting are mainly caused by ink. Generally, scumming occur when ink dirt existed on the non-imaged area of the plate. On the other hand, tinting occur if there is colour “misting” on the non-imaged area . Usually, scumming is related to the plates, thus, to resolve this problem, we have to check the plate first. Meanwhile, tinting is caused by over-emulsification of ink. In most cases, scumming and tinting can be removed by plate cleaner. In addition, we should pay special attention when using drying agents and other additives.
Paper fluffing
Fluffing refers to the situation where linting occur when paper separate from blanket . Too high ink tack and too fast drying speed are main reasons. Also, sub-standard paper quality may be another reason of fluffing. A common solution is using some additives and thinner to reduce the ink tack. Besides, apply a blanket with better surface roughness can have better performance and avoid fluffing. Please be cautioned that if the ink is mixed with other substances, e.g. paper dust, may creates ink dirts. On the other hand, obsolescence of rubber rollers may also adverse the problem.
Poor registration
When a blanket is not installed and mounted properly on the cylinder, there will be some space existed between blanket and blanket cylinder. Then, the blanket will shift and move during high speed printing process, and so make poor registration.
Ink Flying
Ink flying happen if the ink is over emulsified and “fly” to the rollers. In general, higher printing speed, it is more serious of ink flying. Adopting high tack and low viscosity ink can prevent such problem.
Cockling
Cockling after printing leads to uneven piling of paper. This trouble becomes more obvious particularly when there is solid colour tint at paper bottom end. This problem can be consolidately resolved by applying thinner or additives to reduce the ink tack and adjust the sheet-fed press.
Poor drying
When printing inks fails to dry completely after a long period of time after print, it is called “poor drying”. Usually, adding optimal amount of drying agents can solve the problem. Also, maintain a good ventilation is important.
Dot gain and deformation
Dot gain mean enlargement of colour dot, led to poor contrast and dots overlapped. To avoid this problem, we can apply ink with high density, minimize to use additives. It can make sure there is no case of over inking and dot gain. It is also reminded that too much printing pressure will cause dot gain. Dot deformation is caused by blanket disable. When the blanket compressible layer can not function properly, then, the blanket surface will suffer too much pressure and change the normal shape of printing dots.
Uneven of solid colour tint
The roughness of blanket surface determines how much ink transferred. If a blanket surface is corrupted by cleaner for a period of time, the roughness will decline and there will be a printing problem on solid colour tint. It is a situation so-called “Molding”. Please note that same problem will also happen if wrongly using an inappropriate blanket.
Tips for Choosing Printing Supplies
Compliance with international standard
Printing supplies like inks, cleaning agents have certain safety and environmental protection standards. Most buyers want to establish green image for their brands and specifically demand printers to use printing supplies that comply with eco-friendly standards. If printing supplies fail to meet these demands, printers may suffer from product returns or product detentions at customs.
Application needs
Uses will choose the most suitable printing supplies kits according to their needs. Since every printer will have needs in print, relying on words of mouth to choose printing supplies is totally unsatisfactory. Customers should understand their own production flow, demands, features and patterns so as to decide on the ideal printing supplies solution.
Safety
Safety is also a very important consideration when choosing printing supplies. For example, cleaning agents and fountain solutions all contain inflammable chemical materials. When they reach a certain temperature, the inflammable ingredients in these chemical raw materials will be ignited. This can be dangerous. Therefore, serious consideration must be given to this aspect when choosing printing supplies.
Quality stability
Quality of printing supplies will greatly impact the flow of production. As a result, quality stability is essential when making printing supplies decision.
Reliable suppliers
Reliable suppliers will collect top-notch products for customers, thus helping customers to save time in running around for quality comparison. Moreover, reputation of suppliers can also provide quality guarantee.
Prices
Naturally, choosing products with the most reasonable prices is the norm. When we talk about reasonable prices, it does not mean to choose the cheapest printing supplies in the market. Rather, customers should follow a unique set of formula: value for money = less waste + less time devoted + lower chances for repeating jobs + smooth job flow +high quality stability.
After-sale services
Although printing supplies may seem to be stand-alone products, all printing supplies in fact interact closely with the overall production process. Consequentially, safe-sale service is also an important factor. What after-sale services are available for the printing supplies purchased For example, technical staff will visit printing plants and run tests based of the on-site environment so as to find out the best parameters for use and offer real time repairs and maintenance.
Tests data
Most suppliers of printing supplies should have tests data and reports of all its products for sale. Customers can then keep informed on all the features and benefits of the printing supplies they purchased. Some suppliers may even arrange on-site visit to customers’ printing factories to run tests so as to produce the most accurate test reports.
Health of employees
Employees are a company’s most valuable assets. Staff working inside a printing plant will be exposed to different chemicals all day long. Therefore, safety of chemicals and whether harmful odor is released which may affect the health of employees is an important consideration.
