Accessorize Your In-plant

Often overlooked and rarely explored, offset blankets and inks are those essential accessories

that deserve a closer look.

By Mike Llewellyn

A trio of two-color offset presses keep University of Southern Maine's Administrative Services busy, says Production Supervisor Fred Degenhardt. To keep the quality of the impressions high, he says the in-plant has maintained a relationship with A.B.Dick to stock the shop with press blankets.

"We run everything from business cards to clasp envelopes here," he says.

Degenhardt explains that for the mid-sized presses the in-plant runs, he has found semi-compressible blankets to be ideal.

"Softer blankets tend to mean less headaches for us," he says. "A soft blanket won't hold as fine a dot pattern [as a hard blanket] but it's suitable."

Recommending hard blankets for larger presses, Degenhardt says softer blankets won't smash as easily if there is a misfeed resulting in a paper jam. A smash is a dent made in a press blanket that results in a blank space on the printed piece because the ink can't be transferred.

As a result of the in-plant's opting for semi-compressible blankets, Degenhardt says it's not very often that the shop has to replace the accessory. As a matter of fact, some press operators cut down used blankets for use on the envelope press.

But for the most part, he says, the in-plant continues to buy cut-sized blankets from its suppliers.

Essential for the image transfer that makes a print job one a customer can love, press blankets have seen some marked advances in engineering over the past few years. Here's a look at the blankets manufacturers say are ideally suited to in-plants.

Quality Printing Is In The Details

Day International's dayGraphica 5010 boasts what the company calls "next generation" durability and the quick release and sharp print of the blanket's textured surface. Built on DuraZone compressible layer technology, the 5010 absorbs and minimizes damage from web breaks and smashes. The textured surface and consistent print pressure give impressive web release and sharpness of print.

The Platinum is a compressible printing blanket from DYC designed for high-speed web offset and sheet-fed printing applications. It features a water-resistant fabric backing that virtually eliminates premature delamination. The Platinum requires a minimum of packing from the start and fewer repacks after startup.

"The Edge" blankets by Gans Ink and Supply Co. enable printing at better saturation levels without dot gain. Manufactured in conformance with the ISO 9002 standard, "The Edge" offers the sharpest dot and quickest release available in a compressible blanket, according to Gans. "The Edge" features a proprietary sub-face that resists edge-cutting and smashing, adding to the longevity of the smooth, buffed surface.

MacDermid Printing Solutions has introduced Stabil-X, which uses engineered polymers and synthetic fibers to replace nitrile rubber and cotton. This high-tech design and structure improves mechanical properties and has excellent dimensional stability, a higher print quality and high levels of productivity on press. The polymer and fiber combination resists sinking and gives stability on press by reducing elongation. Stabil-X gives excellent solids and dot reproduction.

The PHOENIX CARAT Series is a continuation of the company's Gem Stone line and uses new chemicals in the compressible layer. The printing blankets undergo additional heat treatment, and a new chemical additive in the surface layer improves ink transfer and keeps the dot gain within the narrowest tolerances. A fabric pre-treatment process allows for consistently low elongation values, and they are achieved without the fabric being damaged.

Reflection and SRF blankets from Reeves Brothers are compressible blankets designed for web and sheet-fed offset presses. They feature fine-buffed, quick-release or cast surfaces with low-compression set formulas. Available in three- and four-ply thicknesses, the blankets boast a solvent-resistant face and a water- and solvent-proof backing.

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Finding The Right Ink

A press blanket isn't much good without quality offset ink to transfer. Here are a few of the latest formulations.

Flint Ink's new DURACURE ink system is a UV offset system formulated to provide adhesion onto a variety of substrates including nonporous substrates such as plastics, films, laminated boards and foils. Exhibiting scuff resistance and high color strength, DURACURE is ideal for POP displays, signage, labels, phone cards and membership cards.

Gans Rub-Resistant Q/S Four-Color Process inks are formulated for dull-coated stocks, Krome Kote, index and other uncoated stocks. Once dry, rub-resistance is very good and fear of offsetting is alleviated. These four-color inks are quicker setting than most hard, dry inks, according to Gans. They will accept wet-on-wet aqueous coating, but this specialty process set is not considered finishing friendly.

INX International has introduced EcoPure HP, a process ink system that allows for faster set times and good press stability. Because of the ink's increased flexibility and expanded operating window, printers can use it on a variety of substrates. EcoPure HP is designed to produce quality results on all sheetfed presses and qualifies for the American Soybean Association Seal.

Kohl & Madden Printing Ink has introduced the "Eliminator" series of offset inks, formulated to eliminate the need for alcohol or alcohol substitute in fountain solution. Proprietary materials used in the "Eliminator" series reportedly allow for on-press latitude with consistent color, reduced dry time and fewer makeready sheets.

Spinks Ink's Titan fast-setting ink is designed for small- to medium-sized presses. The laser-safe ink boasts excellent rub resistance and can work well with a variety of plate types, substrates and dampening systems.

US Ink, a division of Sun Chemical, recently introduced Spectra High-Strength Black and Spectra Max Black. High-Strength Black is similar in composition to US Ink's low-rub RubPruf Black and is 20 percent stronger than conventional coldset black ink. High-Strength Spectra Black and Spectra

Max Black are a part of US Ink's family of RealColor products.

The newest member of Van Son Holland Ink's Quickson Inks family is the Quickson Plus Extreme Black formulation. Designed for black-and-white use only, the ink can reportedly increase mileage by 20 percent. Usable on any press and with any plate type, Extreme Black can be aqueous-coated in-line. It is especially well-suited for in-line overprinting of black metallics.