77 NEED TO KNOW / HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEMS July / August 2023 - Issue 343 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Print service providers (PSPs) are faced with all manner of challenges when it comes to being able to produce high-quality work. One of the less talked about issues, but what should be regarded as among the most important considerations, is humidification. Failure to manage humidification could lead to all sorts of issues; from poor quality output to health issues for workers. Here, we speak with specialist providers in this area to find out more about the technology behind the systems and what new options are available to PSPs looking to make humidity a concern of the past. Identify Issues Condair is one of several manufacturers of humidification systems for use in print. Dave Marshall-George, sales director at Condair, says that as low humidity issues frequently do not occur year-round for UK-based PSPs, they can often be overlooked and thought of as a seasonal annoyance, with an accepted drop in productivity or quality that temporarily occurs every winter. However, he warns the impact could be substantial, particularly if it leads to a drop in quality with a loss of clients as a result. “This impact may easily go unnoticed, as clients don’t always highlight dissatisfaction and rarely inform a supplier they are now using someone else,” Marshall-George explains, continuing: “To make an informed decision to invest in a humidification system, a printer must first be able to identify and associate any productivity issues experienced as a result of low humidity. “Secondly, they must be able to financially assess the cost of any humidity-related issues and finally weigh the cost of the humidifier against these losses, both in the initial outlay and in the longer term. This equation can be relatively difficult to put together, but Condair has great experience in this sector and often works with printers to provide detailed return on investment calculations following free site assessments.” As for where issues may arise, Marshall-George says low humidity in a print facility will draw moisture from any exposed paper surface, causing dimensional changes to occur. This can be seen in wavy edges on paper stacks and results in problems such as mis-feeds on machines, mis-registration issues, and web-breaks. Humidity below 40%RH will also promote electrostatic build-up, which can result in issues such as paper jams on machines and dust being attracted to plates. MainKEEP YOUR COOL One of the unsung heroes of the print room, what is the importance of humidification systems to printers, and what options are available on the market? ▲ Condair manufactures both high pressure and compressed air and water spray models
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