In offices, too high humidity can cause problems for equipment. Are dehumidifiers used in the printing industry to control such dilemmas?
The paper and textile printing industry are very sensitive to humidity levels, thus, dehumidifiers are used to remove moisture from the place. Keeping the right humidity condition ensures to produce high-quality products.
To dwell more, read the complete article.
How Does Relative Humidity Affect Printing?
If it's too cold for an indoor printer, there's drier ink in your printer, resulting in clogged prints nozzles in the printing heads. If your local location becomes colder, that space is heating up.
You may be in an area with low ambient humidity control. You need an application that assesses and monitors the printing environment temperature and humidity of your printers to control it.
If the ink on the press's backings doesn't apply the drying process, then the paper won't curl and you may need to wait for days for the newly made printing heads.
Challenges Encountered by Printing Companies Due To Excess Humidity
Printing companies must make sure that the humidity is in check. If too much humidity is present then this can cause problems when printing paper bags and other moisture-sensitive material.
- Paper-Based Products Start To Brittle
Paper-based products and materials start to brittle if the humidity is too high. When this happens, it causes a riffling effect on paper and therefore lessens the print quality of your printing.
- Changes of Appearance and Shape of the Paper
The appearance and the shape of the paper and cardboards change due to humidity. A problem that can arise with printing paper-based products is warping.
Warping occurs when the humidity level is high, then this will cause the printed product to have a whorled pattern which makes your print appear uneven.
- The Functional Integrity of the Paper Itself Changes Drastically
The functional integrity of the paper itself changes drastically. This can cause problems when you are printing magazines and newspapers because of their long length which makes them susceptible to damage.
- The Waste and Write-Offs Are Always High
When the humidity control level goes up, there is an increase in the number of write-offs and paper jams. This is due to ink that can't dry because of excess moisture in the air quality.
- Bacterial Formation and Mold Growth Affect the Paper Products
When the paper is damp, it also causes more problems for your printheads. They get clogged and therefore need constant cleaning which causes them to wear out faster than usual.
Related Article: Dehumidifier Help With Mold: How to Run and Top 5 Best
The Effects of Uncontrolled Humidity
Paper with the wrong moisture content can't be used for printing which thus counts as unused raw materials. As moisture absorbs it affects almost all commonly used printing methods.
Even small amounts of moisture in papers cause low-quality stenciling and poor images. The compromised sheet interferes with print dye absorbance making the pictures less crisp and less precise.
The color-drying process becomes a bit more time-consuming when you work on a sticky surface, as water has to be controlled over its excess.
In offset printing large water content influences interaction between ink, press, and paper. Excess humidity can also negatively affect other stages of printing.
How Can I Prevent Printing Companies From Uncontrolled Humidity?
Dehumidifiers for printing industries can serve as protection against high moisture which deteriorates paper products.
When moisture levels are lowered to desired levels it helps maintain the integrity of materials and prevents corrosion. It also assists in preventing moisture-associated failures in electrical and electronic equipment.
Screen printing and pad printing need different conditions depending on the substrate and type of ink. The best paper for screen printing needs moisture content is about 6%.
Pad printing and gravure need more humidity levels. Pad printers require a relative humidity level of 50 percent while hydrophilic substrates need 90% relative humidity.
The dehumidification technique for printing companies has become a trend that aims to save businesses money and create high-quality paper goods. As it influences paper products and business activities, it also helps to generate profits for such enterprises.
Dehumidifiers for Printing Companies
For various purposes, dehumidifiers are devices used such as pharmaceutical industry, food industry, airlines, museums, homes and offices, schools, and more. Another significant business in the field of dehumidifiers is printing.
Paper is a commodity that is highly susceptible to moisture and excessive moisture levels can create too much damage to paper and businesses related to printing have a huge loss if this concern is not taken care of.
The printing industry is very important as there are many processes related to paper printing, packing, and paper storage areas. Dehumidifiers and printers are in big demand to maintain the quality of paper and prevent damage.
Printing companies are taking the initiative to use refrigerant dehumidifiers to save their business from loss. They are choosing humidity control systems that work well for printing companies by providing the best result possible.
Dehumidification in the Printing Industry
Various aspects of printing are essential for perfect results. Maintaining constant humid humidity from the dryer bulb at the platemaker provides a solid surface layer at a known control point.
The temperature range is from 25 to 27°C and is 45% RH optimum. Special attention should be placed on air quality cleanliness and ventilation to eliminate chemical fumes and dust issues on the panels.
Consequently, in the context of printers, uncontrolled humidity produces problems in which paper expands as it expands all related to a high humidity condition.
Dehumidification systems can be used for all steps in the course of producing printed products from damp storage, heated drying, to packaging.
Dehumidifiers for printing operation businesses are also used to shield paper and textile printing from excessive moisture, as well as excess dampness.
Related Article: Application & Function of Dehumidifiers in Industrial Processes
Know Why a Dehumidifier Is Necessary for Printing
The moisture content of printer shops is measured as relative humidity and it influences the amount of moisture in papers. Different processes will print better with certain degrees of moisture.
Digital printing moisture content can affect toner adhesive, paper jams, and fuser roller temperature. Dehumidifiers are ideal for printing machines because they offer excellent prints.
The paper is designed to be stable in optimal conditions in 48°F relative humidity. In offset, it may affect the interaction between the ink and the press, the paper, and the printer and the ink.
Inkjet is often plagued with many similar issues but is a little more susceptible to dots or the spread of ink drying delays or adhesion difficulties.
The Importance of Dehumidification in Printing Processes
A high-performing dehumidification system can help differentiate between successful and unsuccessful printing. Ensuring proper moisture control is critical in small operation lacks high-end storage facilities.
Dehumidifiers reduce the water vapor or vaporization of air while removing excess humidity to maintain constant indoor humidity. This system accounts for both local and seasonal variations of atmospheric humidity.
The units can also be configured to add humidity to the space when it is required. Alternatively, evaporative technology reduces ambient heating. It can be an advantage as lower temperatures protect printers from overheating, effectively extending their life span.
Why a Dehumidifier Is Necessary for Press Printing?
The moisture content of a print shop is measured as relative humidity and it affects the amount of moisture in paper. Different printing processes work best with certain amounts of moisture.
Digital printing is sensitive to humidity levels as it can affect the adhesion of the ink, paper jams, and fuser roller temperature. Dehumidifiers are ideal for printers as they offer excellent product quality prints.
Why Use a Dehumidifier for Textile Printing?
Controlled humidity levels during the textile printing process contribute extensively to meet product quality standards.
The textile printing process needs careful humidity levels to get the equipment at its optimum use. The dehumidifier can prevent molds and mildews which might stain textiles and reduce rejects.
The fabric retains yarn strength and elasticity thereby providing better production with fewer wastages and no waste. It decreases yarn breakage while weaving process, reducing downtimes and loom marks in production products.
The Ideal Relative Humidity Range for DTG and Inkjet Printers
For direct to garment and inkjet printing, the range in humidity you want to target is 40%-60% RH. This can prevent the ink from drying, prevent clogging nozzles on paper and reduce warping emulsions of printing material.
Likewise, you need to have an ambient temperature of around 70-90 degrees. If you live in an area with a dry climate during winter you can control the humidity around the printer.
Moisture Control in Printing Industry FAQ
What if Filament Was Stored in a Room With a Dehumidifier?
When the filament is stored in a room with a dehumidifier, it means that the humidity would be below the recommended threshold of 14%.
If the room doesn't maintain a temperature above 20 degrees Celsius, your filament can become brittle.
Can I Use a Portable Dehumidifier To Dry Filament?
A dehumidifier with a small capacity or power like a portable dehumidifier can be used to dry filament after it has been placed in an airtight container and kept for some days.
After some days, you can take out the container and dry it. The filament will be relatively dry and ready for use.
Can Drying Filament With a Dehumidifier Damage PLA?
Drying filament with a dehumidifier is advisable, but most importantly, you should dry it in an airtight container.
Damage to the PLA is less likely because drying does not involve heat but merely taking up moisture from the surrounding environment.
