Printing

• 6 aggregates for wet offset printing
• Offset printing with special paints: EB, Electron Beam Curing Ink Series for Offset Printing
• Additional flexographic cassette inserted in the last print mechanism, for applying EB flexographic varnish or opaque white EB flexographic paint. 100 l/cm Anilox – transfer: 10 g/cm2 wet weight
• Electron Beam (EB) colour curing that involves polymerization of paint radicals with electron beams
• 2 rotogravure aggregates at the beginning and at the end of the offset aggregate mechanism are used for rotogravure solvent-based paints (e.g. for opaque white printing), solvent-based varnishing, metallised paint printing. Roto-cylinder screen ruling: 60 l/cm or 80 l/cm
• Possible additional corona-treatment before printing
• Variable printing cylinder formats on offset aggregates (510 to 720 mm in circumference)
• Maximum width of the print band: 740 mm, print width: 725 mm
• Plate and rubber channel widths ranging from 1.5 to 2.0 mm

The construction of EZ Cure provided by Energy Sciences Inc. resembles that of a TV cathode ray tube. The technology uses the energy generated by an accelerated electron beam. The generated electrons penetrate the structure of material, transmitting part of their energy to excite molecules and thereby initiate a chemical reaction chain such as cross-linking. This can result in a change in many properties involving mechanical, electric or thermal properties. The phenomenon has been used to develop special paints that contain no photo-initiators which had previously been necessary to cure UV paints. EB curing is a rapid chemical process which only takes milliseconds. It is often called a “Cold Oven” as no heat is generated during drying.

Vacuum chamber is the basic structural unit of the device. It houses cathode tungsten filaments that emit high-energy electron beams. The beams pass through a special window and reaches the substrate surface which is covered with paint. A shielded collector is right past the base. The electrons that do not stop on the product are collected by the ESI Selfshield. Paint penetration depends on the beam energy. Energy doses are expressed in mega Rads (MRad) or kilo Grays (kGy). 1MRad=10kGy=2.4 cal/g.  Cross-linking occurs in the atmosphere of inert gas (pure nitrogen) due to the fact that oxygen inhibits the reaction. The device holds valid CE security certificates. Any change of parameters during the device’s operation, e.g. increased amount of oxygen, results in an immediate alert or discontinues the printing and drying process. 3 Geiger-Muller counters ensure the external safety of the device, operating staff and final product. The counters cut the system off in case of any radiation leakage.

• 6 offset print aggregates
• Possible dispersive coating from an additional the 7th flexographic aggregate and the 60l/cm Anilox raster; wet weight transfer: 15g/m2
• Drying printed tapes with IR lamps and with hot air
• Maximum substrate band width: 680 mm
• Maximum width of print on the substrate band: 670 mm
• Printing cylinder circumference: 27” (685.80mm)