How does viscosity monitoring contribute to better print quality?

The importance of ink viscosity monitoring in flexo printing

Viscosity is the single most important variable in flexo printing that has a big impact on your print quality output. Monitoring of viscosity during the flexo printing process involves measuring and controlling the consistency or thickness of the ink.

1. Consistency: viscosity monitoring helps maintain consistent ink viscosity throughout the printing process. This ensures that the ink flows evenly and consistently onto the substrate.
2. Cost savings: you will reduce ink, and substrate waste, as well as downtime.
3. Improved print quality: with ink viscosity monitoring you prevent common print defects such as dot gain, color shift, and poor ink transfer.
4. Increased productivity: you will reduce the frequency of ink changes and downtime associated with adjusting ink viscosity.
5. Improved ink management: by monitoring viscosity, you can better manage your ink inventory by using the ink efficiently. This can lead to a more sustainable and cost-effective printing operation.

What options are available for ink monitoring?

To monitor viscosity, you have different options, such as a viscometer or a rheometer to measure the ink’s viscosity at different stages. You can do this manually or automatically. Automatic viscosity monitoring systems can continuously measure viscosity. And what is more, you can adjust ink flow to maintain consistent viscosity levels throughout the printing process.

What results can you expect when not monitoring properly?

If viscosity is not monitored in flexo printing, you may expect several issues. These issues can negatively impact the printing process and the quality of the printed products, including

1. Inconsistent print quality: ink viscosity affects the ink’s flow and transfer properties. Therefore it can lead to uneven ink coverage and color density, resulting in poor print quality;
2. Dot gain and color shift: inconsistent ink viscosity can cause dot gain. In that case the dot in the print becomes larger than intended. The color shift, in its turn, is when the printed color deviates from the desired color. These issues can make the final product appear blurry, fuzzy, or distorted;
3. Ink waste: inconsistent ink viscosity can cause to discard ink batches that are not suitable for printing. This results in ink waste and increased production costs;
4. Downtime and reduced productivity: frequent adjustments to ink viscosity can result in downtime. This will cause delays and reduction in productivity;
5. Inefficient use of ink: inconsistent viscosity can result in the ink being used inefficiently, and thus resulting in increased ink consumption and additional costs

Why would you choose automated viscosity monitoring over manual?

1. Increased accuracy: automated viscosity monitoring systems use advanced sensors and software to measure viscosity accurately and consistently. This will result in more precise viscosity readings;
2. Time-saving: continuously monitoring viscosity reduces the manual checks and adjustments. Therefore, it saves time and increases productivity;
3. Real time adjustments: automated viscosity monitoring systems provide real time adjustments to ink viscosity. That will ensure that the ink remains within optimal range for printing, without the need for manual intervention;
4. Cost-effective: the reduction of ink waste, minimizing down-time, and increase of productivity combined, results in cost savings and a more efficient printing process;
5. Quality control: automated viscosity monitoring systems will maintain consistent ink viscosity throughout the printing process. Therefore, the print quality remains high and uniform.
   

Overall, automated viscosity monitoring is a more efficient, accurate, and cost effective way to monitor and control ink viscosity. That is why it is the preferred choice for many printing operations.

How does Rheonics differ from other viscosity monitoring systems?

The Rheonics SRV offers high accuracy and reproducibility. The resonator is completely balanced, therefore the accuracy is immune to its mechanical environment. The system comes calibrated and does not need calibration during its lifetime. Furthermore, the Rheonics SRV provides constant viscosity monitoring and real time read out every second. This will keep your viscosity within a very tight range.

How can you by choosing the right doctor blade increase print quality and profitability combined?

The doctor blade is a small but central part of the printing process

A doctor blade is a small but central part of the printing process. As such, it controls the thickness and consistency of the applied ink.

In printing, the doctor blade is used to remove excess ink from the surface of the anilox. This way it leaves only the ink required for printing behind. This ensures that the ink is applied evenly and accurately. This in its turn helps to produce high quality prints.

The doctor blade can be made of a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, and rubber. The choice of material depends on the application and the properties of the material being applied.

How can the right doctor blade contribute to increased print quality and profitability combined?

Using a bad or worn-out doctor blade can lead to various problems in printing. Some of the common problems that tell you to change your doctor blade are:

1. Inconsistent printing: A bad doctor blade can cause uneven application of the ink, resulting in inconsistent print quality. This can lead to quality issues and can effect the overall appearance and performance of the final print.
2. Excessive material waste: A bad doctor blade may not be able to properly remove excess ink, and thus leading to wastage of material and increased production costs.
3. Reduced printing speed: A worn-out doctor blade may not be able to remove the ink quickly enough, and therefore leading to slower production speeds and longer production times.
4. Damage to the anilox: A bad doctor blade can cause scratches or other damage to the anilox, which can lead to poor print quality or the need for costly repair or replacements.
5. Increased maintenance and downtime: Using a bad doctor blade can increase the frequency of maintenance and downtime required for the printing equipment. As such a the bad doctor blade may therefore need to replaced more frequently or may cause equipment issues.

How can we meet increasing demands on productivity and sustainability combined with increasing profitability?

We are confident that this is possible if we focus on all the parts in the chain. The high quality Swedish steel, used in PrimeBlade doctor blades for instance, is made from recycled steel. And what’s more, it can be further recycled into new products after end-of-life as a doctor blade.

The packaging industry is facing a transformation, where all parties involved need to participate actively. Therefore, solutions, concepts, and products need to be designed in such a way that they may interact seamlessly with others up or down the value chain.

PrimeBlade doctor blades are designed to create a worry-free production environment, to ensure consistency in printing, avoid excessive material waste, and damage to the anilox. Only this way, you will achieve high quality printing, with increased profitability.