Category Archives: Blog

How Seasonal Changes Can Affect Print

It’s summertime, and extreme temperatures can have a dramatic effect on your printing process. Drying rates of coatings are often slower whenever an excessive amount of heat and moisture is present. Since paper stocks, inks, and coatings are all affected by heat and moisture, proper care should be taken to deliver a saleable press sheet.

Process control of all variables in the printing process is critical when conditions are extreme. Pile temperatures, coating viscosity, film weight, ink emulsification, ink density, and fountain solution conductivity should be closely monitored.

Maintaining the recommended pile temperatures during printing is critical. A combination of infrared energy and warm air are needed. The shearing and removal of moisture from the sheet is

Optimizing Performance

A key selling feature for any print job is the use of an aqueous or energy-curable coating. Such coatings are often applied to the finished product to give it a certain look or feel. The type of coating selected will have a dramatic visual impact on how the printed piece is perceived by the customer.

Since there are a variety of coatings one can use for a printed job, it is imperative that any coating chosen is run at optimal levels. This will ensure that the desired look of the coating will be what the end user wants.

The Film Weight Test

One way to optimize the performance of coatings on the press is

During September 25 — 27, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center will be home to the LabelExpo Americas 2018 show. This venue will provide a wonderful platform for multiple vendors to present a whole new world of label and package printing solutions. PRISCO is very excited to be a first-time exhibitor at this show. If you will be attending, please stop by Booth 6508 (REGISTER HERE for LabelExpo) and learn more about some of the new products we have for the Flexo marketplace.

Throughout the show, many of the planet’s leading manufacturers will be doing live demonstrations of technologies that include the latest presses, finishing units, inks, dies and substrates. Making its debut – not only at Labelexpo Americas 2018 but also for the first time at a show in the region – the ground-breaking Automation Arena will showcase

An Ounce Of Prevention …

When you think of things in life that require maintenance, what comes to your mind? Your teeth, car, appliances, home, or even your spouse? If you’re in the printing industry, it’s the costly investment sitting on your pressroom floor: the printing press. A modern-day offset press is a sophisticated (and pricey) piece of equipment. When well maintained, it can produce hundreds of millions of quality impressions.

However, one may feel that there just isn’t time in a busy production schedule to do the necessary maintenance. If that’s been the case in your shop,

HP News Release

July 9th, 2018 — HP Inc. expanded its hybrid HP Latex R Printer Series with the R1000 Printer for rigid and flexible printing. Designed for a variety of hybrid applications including signage and displays, the growing portfolio offers choice, value, and versatility while featuring innovative technologies including HP Latex Rigid Printing Technology and HP Latex White Ink.

The current portfolio includes the HP Latex R2000 Printer, designed for large-signage printer service providers (PSP) who require workflow efficiency and sustained production. With the debut of the HP Latex R1000 Printer, HP is adding depth to offer maximum value in one device.

Is Your Water Wet Enough?

A key component to help wash the surface of a printing blanket is water. Many presses are equipped with automatic blanket wash systems. These systems allow for water to be sprayed onto the surface of a blanket during the washup cycle. When water is combined with the correct solvent or Pro-clean cloths during a washup cycle, it helps remove calcium and paper buildup on the blankets.

In many shops, the water used in automatic washup systems is less than efficient with regards to wetting characteristics. The wetting ability of water is referred to as surface tension. This is the force present within the surface layer of a liquid that causes the layer to behave as an elastic sheet. If the surface tension of water is too high,

Why Control Humidity?

When printing with an offset or digital press, one important factor to monitor is the humidity of your pressroom. Why? Because a critical component used in the printing process is paper. Since paper is hygroscopic in nature, it will either absorb moisture from a damp atmosphere or release moisture to a dry atmosphere.

Drastic changes in the moisture content of paper can cause serious issues. An environment too low in humidity will pull moisture from a substrate causing its edges to lose dimensional stability. This will allow the paper to curl and compromise its stable delivery through the press.

‘Older,’ But Not Obsolete

In 2014, Ferrari introduced the California T with an all-new 3.9-litre V-8 twin-turbo engine. It produced 552bhp and raced from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds. Fast forward to 2018, and I doubt anyone who owns this ride would suddenly scrap it because it is just a ‘few years old.’ On the contrary, a car of this caliber will continue to provide many years of driving bliss with the proper care.

A few years ago, many companies purchased new HP Scitex FB500/FB700 printers. These machines have superior print characteristics and high productivity features. However, now that these printers are ‘older,’ have they suddenly become obsolete and destined for the scrapyard? Not as long as they receive the proper care.

CREDIT: 123RF Images

During February 26-28, the 2018 Print UV Conference will be held at the exclusive Encore resort in Las Vegas, NV. As an ‘Industry Sponsor’, Prisco is looking forward to seeing you there to learn more about the energy-curable market. While this market continues to grow, so does Prisco’s product offering when it comes to LED and HUV technologies. In fact, our major product lines – blankets, founts, coatings and washes – are working extremely well with these new presses and inks.

The use of refractometers in the pressroom for analyzing fountain solutions is becoming more and more common. Ink and Coating vendors will use them to “prove” that the fountain solution is the cause of whatever problem their product is afflicted with.