The Ultimate Paper Moisture-Proof Tips for Printing Companies During the Rainy Season – Super Practical!
As the rainy season approaches, with increased rainfall, the air humidity rises significantly. Paper, being directly exposed to the air, easily absorbs the moisture, which can lead to excessive water content and directly affect printing quality and physical properties. Today, I'd like to share with you some tips on how to properly keep your paper moisture-free.
Storage Methods
Paper generally has strong moisture-absorbing properties. Once it gets damp, it can deform, and in severe cases, develop mold spots. Therefore, the environment for storing paper must be clean, dry, and well-ventilated. Paper storage rooms should remain dry, and roofs must not leak. Windows should be small and high to avoid direct sunlight, otherwise, heating and excessive moisture evaporation may make white paper brittle, yellowed, and easy to tear; colored paper may fade and also deform due to curling.
When stacking paper, use support bars to elevate it about 25mm from the ground and avoid placing it too close to the walls.
01
Keep Storage Rooms Dry and Control Humidity
If conditions allow, use a dehumidifier or small fans to improve air circulation. When necessary, you can also place some desiccants, which effectively prevent damage caused by humid air.
It's important to prohibit storing chemicals or items with high water or oil content in the paper storage room. Paper should not be stored with items that easily absorb moisture, otherwise it can quickly get damp and deteriorate.
02Regularly check the pallets to prevent direct contact with the ground paper
Regularly check if the bottom pallets are damaged to prevent paper products from directly touching the ground. The pallet height should be more than ten centimeters.
Choose solid flat pallets instead of slatted ones. This can greatly reduce the surface area of paper in direct contact with humid air, helping to keep it dry.
03The wrapping should be tight and proper to reduce air exposure.
The wrap needs to be secure, not just a single layer for show. When wrapping, the pallets should be included as well. Whether the wrapping is done properly and tightly plays a crucial role in minimizing the contact between moisture and the paper.
If a full sheet of paper is unwrapped but not all used, it should be promptly tightly wrapped for storage to reduce its exposure to humid air.
04Arrange the paper properly to speed up air circulation
When placing the paper, leave a good gap between the pallets to allow air to flow. On sunny days, you can open the windows to speed up indoor air circulation and get rid of the moisture in the warehouse.
In Use
With the rainy season coming, paper can easily get curled edges and similar issues, so please keep in mind these three points:
1. After cutting the paper, pack it up promptly. Don't leave it exposed in a humid environment.
2. Once you open the paper packaging, make sure to wrap any unused paper with cling film quickly to prevent moisture from getting in.
3. During printing, sometimes the job may be done in batches. If it's a rainy day, it's a good idea to wrap the unfinished paper in cling film and cover it with a wooden board to avoid it absorbing water from the air.
Storage Period
Generally, paper shouldn't be stored for too long. No matter how good the storage conditions are, paper will still discolor and deteriorate over time. For example, if paper is stored too long, coated paper will yellow and flake; newsprint will turn yellow and brittle; packaging paper will change color and lose strength; and kraft and cardboard can get moldy and go bad. So, when storing different types of paper, it's important to follow the first-in, first-out principle to avoid long storage causing deterioration and losses.
Taking care of paper is meticulous work. Unsuitable storage environment, unscientific methods, lax storage rules, or careless attitude can all lead to significant losses. In paper storage, frequent inspections are needed to prevent accidents and minimize loss as much as possible. Keeping paper dry is all about being prepared. As long as we take preventive measures and follow procedures strictly, it's entirely possible to avoid issues like paper getting damp.