Product category:
General Print Supplies, Services for Printers
News Release from: Draabe Humidification | Subject: Turbofog air humidification systems
Edited by the Printingtalk Editorial
Team on 09 March 2007
Humidity Vital For Print Quality And
Staff Welfare
High pressure humidification technology, such as Draabe's Turbofog system, is increasingly replacing other air humidification systems.
High pressure humidification technology, such as Draabe's Turbofog system, is increasingly replacing other air humidification systems The company believes that constant optimum air humidity is the most important climatic parameter for high printing quality and trouble free production
This article was originally published on Printingtalk on 16 Jun 2006 at 8.00am (UK)
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According to Draabe, printers need to choose carefully and compare features of available humidification systems before installing such equipment.
They must look at their plant, the type of equipment being used, their employee's health concerns, the maintenance and performance of the different air humidification systems and power consumption usage.
The company believes that making a knowledgeable decision by comparing the various systems on the market is critical.
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Wafik Kouchouk, Draabe's director of sales, said: "During the winter months, in particular, air humidity in printing shops often drops to critical levels, thus producing paper warpage, electrostatic charging, restricted machine runability and production stops that incur avoidable costs frequently associated with an insufficient level of air humidity.
Some printing shops allow the air humidity problem to persist, whilst others use a variety of different systems and technology." The available systems range from rotary atomisers, steam air humidifiers, ultrasonic atomisers, air washers in A/C systems, to compressed air and high-pressure nozzle systems.
Draabe said that during the past few years, more North American printing shops have converted their air humidification systems to high-pressure nozzle systems.
The various high-pressure nozzle systems can be differentiated by nozzle size, humidity distribution, versatility and services, added the company.
For instance, systems with extremely fine nozzles exclude any danger of droplet formation and humidity condensation - in particular for low-pressure systems.
Alternatively, maximum and fast distribution of humidity in a room is reached by systems, which have a fan additionally integrated in to the atomiser.
Draabe Humidification manufactures different systems for the printing shop, pre-press, paper store and office areas worldwide.
It said that in a high-pressure nozzle system, water is vapourised to a micro-fine degree using a high-pressure pump and titanium nozzles, which are practically free of noise.
In addition, noted Wafik Kouchouk, Draabe's high pressure nozzle system emits a greater humidification output from the atomiser than the nozzles used by compressed-air systems but it incurs a fraction of the power costs.
He explained: "We're able to supply more humidification in a cost efficient manner.
We're also able to protect the health of a printer's plant.
The Draabe water supply is in an enclosed circulatory system.
For hygienic and reliable operation only pure, demineralszed water is used, which is provided by means of an integrated reverse osmosis system.
The pure water produced here can be used optionally as standard process water for printing presses." Kouchouk added that other types of air humidification systems cannot compare to high pressure nozzle systems.
For example, maintenance and repair costs are less on a high pressure nozzle system than other types of technology.
The service life of ultrasonic ceramic oscillators, for example, is generally limited, if they are not operated using de-ionised water.
Meanwhile, steam humidifiers also face performance and service life problems due to minerals and floating particles being deposited during the course of time on the base of the steam-generating cylinder, or on the electrodes or heater elements.
Draabe commented that printers also need to look in to the amount of power being consumed by a humidification system.
Kouchouk commented: "When printers compare all systems, steam air humidification, in terms of power and cost, is the least favourable.
Electrically-heated steam humidifiers output approximately 10 times the level of power consumption as opposed to cold atomiser systems." In terms of power consumption, maintenance outlay and humidification performance, nozzle systems are superior to any other type of humidification system, he added.
If correctly designed and equipped with appropriate water treatment systems, nozzle humidifiers will operate hygienically and maintenance free.
Keeping employees healthy, said Kouchouk, is another major difference between the systems.
Since rotary atomisers, ultrasonic atomisers and air washers in A/C systems generally use open storage reservoirs, they become an ideal breeding ground for fungus, germs and bacteria.
For that reason, regular and thorough cleaning is absolutely essential if hygiene problems and hazards for employees are to be avoided.
But the printer must take in to account the additional costs for cleaning those systems, he observed.
Kouchouk acknowledged: "Installing a new humidification system is a big decision.
But by comparing the different systems on the market, a printer can make a wise and educated decision.
Many printers are choosing to install high pressure nozzle systems, such as our Turbofog.".
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