Don't Get Rung Out
February 2006
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Efficient drying equipment can save money in big ways, and can be the difference between staying in the black or seeing red.
SAVING A BUCK is at the top of everyone's mind right now, especially in light of the steep rise in energy costs. At this point, there is really nothing converters can do when they get an electric bill, other than pay it or get their power cut off. But taking some simple steps in the converting process can produce some big savings.
One area converters can improve cost savings is to look at their drying processes. Many drying equipment suppliers are working in tandem with their customers to provide suggestions and solutions to the energy-cost crunch which has everyone reeling these days.
Into thin air
There's no magic with drying a freshly printed substrate. In basic terms, energy is added to a substrate/ink combination, which evaporates the liquid, usually water. This energy can be supplied by either hot air or by infrared radiation (IR). With the extraction of the water, the thickness of the coating will appear thinner, which is typically the affect the converter is vying for. Because the drying process is an important and necessary step in package printing, converters must know how to make the drying process as cost effective as possible. A good place to find this information is with the dryer supplier.
"Energy efficiency is a top concern for our customers with the rapid rise of energy costs," said Matt Litzler, president, C.A. Litzler Co. "To help with high costs of energy, we encourage our customers to use variable speed drives, increase the insulation of the system and the exterior ductwork, optimize the efficiency of the gas burners, and minimize the exhaust rates.
"Litzler also offers engineering dryer surveys to audit the efficiency of existing dryers. Our engineers can evaluate the existing operating conditions and make recommendations to improve energy efficiency or improve product quality," he added.
Most importantly he said, "The biggest energy improvement is optimizing the proper exhaust rates to maximize the recirculation of the air."
One example of how C.A. Litzler is helping printers save on their energy bills is by offering its Perfect Float floatation dryers. "These dryers give converters a very efficient drying method by using high-velocity air flow. A flotation dryer can be less than one-half the length of a traditional roll support dryer. The per-foot energy costs may be higher, but the material can be dried in a shorter space," Litzler said.
SAVING A BUCK is at the top of everyone's mind right now, especially in light of the steep rise in energy costs. At this point, there is really nothing converters can do when they get an electric bill, other than pay it or get their power cut off. But taking some simple steps in the converting process can produce some big savings.
One area converters can improve cost savings is to look at their drying processes. Many drying equipment suppliers are working in tandem with their customers to provide suggestions and solutions to the energy-cost crunch which has everyone reeling these days.
Into thin air
There's no magic with drying a freshly printed substrate. In basic terms, energy is added to a substrate/ink combination, which evaporates the liquid, usually water. This energy can be supplied by either hot air or by infrared radiation (IR). With the extraction of the water, the thickness of the coating will appear thinner, which is typically the affect the converter is vying for. Because the drying process is an important and necessary step in package printing, converters must know how to make the drying process as cost effective as possible. A good place to find this information is with the dryer supplier.
"Energy efficiency is a top concern for our customers with the rapid rise of energy costs," said Matt Litzler, president, C.A. Litzler Co. "To help with high costs of energy, we encourage our customers to use variable speed drives, increase the insulation of the system and the exterior ductwork, optimize the efficiency of the gas burners, and minimize the exhaust rates.
"Litzler also offers engineering dryer surveys to audit the efficiency of existing dryers. Our engineers can evaluate the existing operating conditions and make recommendations to improve energy efficiency or improve product quality," he added.
Most importantly he said, "The biggest energy improvement is optimizing the proper exhaust rates to maximize the recirculation of the air."
One example of how C.A. Litzler is helping printers save on their energy bills is by offering its Perfect Float floatation dryers. "These dryers give converters a very efficient drying method by using high-velocity air flow. A flotation dryer can be less than one-half the length of a traditional roll support dryer. The per-foot energy costs may be higher, but the material can be dried in a shorter space," Litzler said.
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Package Printing, Second Edition