Dr. Kai K. O. Bär adphos Digital Printing GmbH, Bruckmühl/Germany -Technology an Enabler for Instantaneous Post Printing Processes NIR is a trademark of adphos. adphos owns more than 200 patents- or patent applications on the NIR-technology INPRINT November 14 th 16 th, 2017 Munich/Germany
Introduction Printing and coating processes require Pre-/Post-printing /coating processing: Water/solvent removal Melting of powders Curing/sintering for thermal polymerization (liquid and powder based formulations) So drying becomes the (most) critical step especially for higher production speed 2
Todays Conventional Drying/Heating s Technologies Thermal convection Thermal conduction Thermal (mid/short wave) IR-radiation 3
Conventional Drying Systems Hot air Big, but robust Hot drum Due to speed mostly too large UV Only applied on temperature sensitive, non FDA applications Infra red Only for non temperature sensitive substrates applications 4
- What makes the Difference (1) UV anir midwave IR Very low (minimum) energy (heat) absorption of paper and plastic substrates in the NIR-wavelength range! 5
- What makes the Difference (2) UV Absorption measurement of ink anir midwave IR High energy absorption of the printed pattern also in the NIR-wavelength range! 6
- What makes the Difference (3) Liquid water shows continued energy absorption and not only in midwave IR range, as water vapor does! 7
- What makes the Difference (4) (Midwave)-IR Drying 8
- What makes the Difference (5) adphosnir -Drying 9
- What makes the Difference (6) is based on Special wavelength spectrum (peak at 820 nm, 3,000 K) High(est) energy density (up to 1.5 MW/m ) Focusing reflector geometry (high temperature homogeneity, adjustable drying zones) Intrinsic warm air high velocity impingement air 10
- What makes the Difference (7) Instantaneous drying of printed pattern Setting the ink before eventual penetration and low thermal stress on the substrate Better print quality Less ink Less dry-out (waviness) Less dryer power consumption Fine/accurate width and dynamic adjustable drying power Instantaneous start/stop No start-up/standby operation Extreme compact 11
Application Examples (1) High Speed IJ Printing on Corrugated Boards 12
Application Examples (2) High Performance Color IJ Printing on Plastic Films 13
Application Examples (3) High Speed Flexo Printing on Plastic Films integrated flexo printing press: Adaptable of very temperature sensitive substrates Extreme compact (< 1 m, 250 m/min) Very competitive energy costs (even at high electrical energy costs) 14
Application Examples (4) Direct Print to Shape of PE-Pattern 15
Application Examples (5) Direct Printing on PET-Bottles 16
Application Examples (6) 3D - Manufacturing Benefits: Low thermal heating of unprinted PA-particles High T-process possible (T: 50 K) No speed limit due to melting process (acceleration more than factor 10 possible) 17
Conclusions (1) direct interaction with water/oh molecules of the coating and low substrate heating Conventional IR cannot compete, due to wavelength emission ( heat on substrate) energy density ( size, process, drying mechanisms) energy costs ( conventional drying process, system efficiency) applicable as booster (often doubling speed) and as full dryer configuration in fraction of size for dynamic operation (smaller batches) adapted operation (less preparation/downtime, less waste) New products (e.g. PE) combination with IJ (e.g. food packaging, tobacco) 18
Conclusions (2) only since 20 years, but > 1,000 printing productions (mostly IJ) and another > 1,000 productions in coil coating, steel processing, wood, glass food, semiconductor, automotive,. 19
Conclusions (3) Not one fits all, but for many, if not most applications, process performance improvement quality enhanced and cost savings solutions possible! 20
Thank you! Drying at the speed of light!