New KBA IR and hot air dryers slash energy usage

The new-generation Varidry dryer from KBA is claimed by the company to dry at high production speeds while achieving energy savings.

According to KBA dryers normally consume a lot of power.

The infrared (IR) and hot-air drying process accounts for around 40 per cent of the total energy consumed by a printing press, added the company.

KBA added that a short drying time provides maximum gloss effects, combined with minimum energy consumption.

Varidry IR and hot-air dryers are claimed to have been engineered to dry high-gloss coatings energy efficiently.

Varidryblue is claimed to reduce power consumption by as much as 50 per cent, even at maximum output levels, while at the same time supporting high production speeds.

KBA also claimed that the system is easy to access when the sheet guides need to be cleaned.

The Varidry systems will be launched at Ipex 2010 from 18-25 and many of the Varidryblue IR and hot-air dryers will be available for all large-format Rapida presses configured with triple delivery extensions.

They can even be retrofitted on existing press lines, added KBA.

According to KBA recovering and re-utilising ambient circulating air in the Varidryblue dryer can reduce power consumption compared with conventional IR and hot-air dryers.

The air drawn in is heated by two rows of lamps to the drying temperature pre-selected at the console.

Optimised air nozzles with a uniform flow profile along their entire length are used to ensure that the air is distributed evenly onto the substrate surface.

The unsaturated hot air from modules one and two in the delivery extension is recirculated through the system.

The recirculated air can subsequently be reused in module three and in the swan neck.

With this method it is possible to reduce the installed heating power.

Re-using the warm air several times over also has the advantage of reducing the volume of exhaust air compared to other conventional IR and hot-air dryers.

KBA claimed that Varidryblue dryer energy is utilised with maximum efficiency and not release into the environment.

KBA said that, for example, a five-colour item of packaging was printed and given a protective coating on a Rapida 142 six-colour coater press with triple extended delivery and IR and hot-air dryer.

The power consumed by the dryer during the production run was measured.

The model calculation was based on an average price of 13 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity, although that may vary according to the energy provider and region.

The sustainability of the Varidryblue dryer is reflected in the potential savings.

Calculated over an average machine life of eight years, a few kilowatts and cents amount to a sizeable item - the reduction in power consumption provided a claim ed saving of approximately EUR140,000 (USD198,000).

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