MEGTEC Systems announced the introduction of an innovative IronmanTM web cooling system for web offset presses. “More and more printers print high-quality prints with low-end paper and high ink coverage. To make more profit, the press needs to be close to the best conditions (as high as possible, Prints at the lowest number of waste sheets,†said Phil Strand, vice president of the US printing product group at MEGTEC. “It is difficult to achieve ink coverage or ink characteristics that exceed the drying box specification limits. When using difficult-to-dry paper, solvent condensation lines, ink stacker, and drying device smoke sometimes cause the press to decrease. The printing speed and even the product itself have not reached the 'dry' level. Improper drying box adjustment or maintenance will further increase the gap between the actual printing speed and the highest printing speed."
The new IronmanTM integrated web cooling system solves three major problems in high-speed printing: condensing on the chill roll; marking on the downstream roll; and smog in the printing shop. When designing the IronmanTM, the press can be run at faster speeds without frequent cleaning and maintenance work.
The IronmanTM integrated web cooling system and conditioning unit consists of an L-shaped overwrap roller that rotates the horizontally moving tape down 90° during printing. This roller has a tape rule function that can replace the tilt box design where the conventional tape turns into a downward motion. After the L-covered roller, there is a highly innovative silicone oil coating device that seals both sides of the web and increases the humidity of the web. The web then passes through a modular set of cooling rollers to cool the room temperature of the press room. The number of overwrap rollers used in the roll stack module is determined by the speed of the press.
IronmanTM technology has now begun to be used on high-speed web offset presses and has been proven to be effective through tests on prototype machines. IronmanTM has been manufactured to meet the needs of low maintenance, long life, and is now available in all web widths of 16 to 90-sheet single-sheet format presses as well as in double-web configurations, with print speeds up to 18 meters/inch. Seconds (350 feet/minute).
MEGTEC Systems Inc. is the largest independent supplier of equipment for the confetti, dryer, newspaper and commercial printing industries.