Together, the flexo process is not worthwhile!
We are a big printing company in Shenzhen China . We offer all book publications, hardcover book printing, papercover book printing, hardcover notebook, sprial book printing, saddle stiching book printing, booklet printing,packaging box, calendars, all kinds of PVC, product brochures, notes, Children's book, stickers, all kinds of special paper color printing products, game cardand so on.
For more information please visit
http://www.joyful-printing.com. ENG only
http://www.joyful-printing.net
http://www.joyful-printing.org
email: info@joyful-printing.net
A professional analyzes the difference in solvent consumption between the gravure process and the flexo process with actual data. From this calculation process, it can be seen that flexo printing is an environmentally friendly printing process compared to gravure printing.
The solvent consumption of one gravure printing machine for one day is as high as 5.544 tons.
What is the amount of organic solvent emissions in the gravure process? One case shows: 1 film gravure press with a printing speed of 300 m/min, an effective running time of 20 hours per day, a film width of 1 m, and a daily output of 360,000. The square meter is calculated by the average ink consumption of the gravure process of 7 grams per square meter (note: it is wet ink, not dry ink), and it needs to consume 2520000 grams of ink, which is 2.52 tons. In the gravure process, it is necessary to adjust the viscosity of the ink with a solvent. The conventional ratio is 1:2, that is, 1 kg of ink requires 2 kg of solvent, which includes both the solvent added to the ink tank and the solvent consumed during cleaning. The specific solvent consumption is directly related to the on-site management level of the enterprise. Generally speaking, the enterprise management level is high, the solvent consumption is small, and vice versa. If we calculate according to the management level of the enterprise, that is, the ratio is 1:1.5, then it consumes 3.78 tons of solvent while consuming 2.52 tons of ink. Since the solid content of solvent-based gravure inks is generally not high, 70% of the 2.52 tons of ink is solvent, or 1.764 tons, calculated at 30%. In this way, the solvent consumption of a gravure press for one day is as high as 5.544 tons. This data is not deliberately enlarged.
This is because: the printing speed of 300 m / min is not the highest in gravure printing enterprises, not to mention the introduction of many imported high-speed gravure printing machines in the gravure industry over the years; the effective booting time of 20 hours per day is not the longest. Large and medium-sized gravure printing enterprises do not stop when eating or changing jobs; 7 grams of ink per square meter is still ok, and the unit ink consumption of some gravure printing enterprises has far exceeded this value, but there is no precision. Calculated only; the amount of solvent added is actually lower than 1:1.5, and the general management level of gravure printing is almost 1:2. Moreover, the solid content of the solvent-based gravure ink is already high by 30%. In fact, the solid content of many gravure inks is less than 30% at all, in other words, the solvent content of the 1 kg ink is higher.
Other data can also be used to confirm from the side: In some gravure companies that have been concerned about environmental protection, the large amount of solvent has been treated and recycled, and the economic benefits created by it have become the main aspects of corporate profits. Some people in the industry have already learned about a well-known instant noodle packaging manufacturer. The products of the factory are at the low end of the flexible packaging industry chain, with an annual output value of several hundred million, but the profits are basically contributed by solvent recycling, so the company has been We attach great importance to the upgrading and transformation of solvent recovery equipment, and continue to invest in and replace solvent recovery equipment. With a glimpse of the whole leopard, these organic solvents will be discharged directly without treatment, and the amount of emissions will be huge!
Why is the flexographic process classified as an environmentally friendly process?
What if the case is switched to the flexo process? The flexo ink film is thinner, and the solvent-based flexo ink has a pigment ratio nearly double that of the gravure ink, and the solid content is slightly higher, also calculated at 30%. The square ink consumption is generally 2 grams. Because the film flexo printing machine generally adopts a satellite structure, each printing unit adopts a closed type squeegee, and the ink in the ink tank is transported through the pipeline, which is completely open like the ink tank of the gravure printing machine, so the solvent is volatilized. The amount is small. The ratio of flexo ink to solvent is generally 1:1, and the enterprise with higher management level can even reach 1:0.7. For calculation convenience, it is calculated as 1:1 here. Still in accordance with the above production conditions, the solvent consumption of one flexo press for one day is only 1.224 tons, which is 22% of the gravure printing process. It is no wonder that solvent-based inks are also used. The industry will list flexo printing as an environmentally friendly process, and gravure printing as a non-environmental process. If the film flexo printing uses water-based inks, what is the comparison? The results can be imagined.
In the past 10 years, gravure solvent-based inks have been de-benzeneized, but they cannot be desolvated. History and reality have repeatedly warned us that solvent-based gravure inks must be replaced with water-based inks, albeit with many difficulties.