78 taining humidity at around 50%RH allows static charge to naturally dissipate through the air, avoiding these problems. “The good news is that in a UK climate, there are many months when the indoor humidity will naturally fall within the ideal level of around 50%RH,” Marshall-George says, adding: “However, it is during the cold winter months when UK printers typically experience humidity below the recommended 40%RH threshold and need to use humidification systems to maintain a productive operation.” Looking to the products available from Condair, Marshall-George says there is no one-size-fits-all solution for managing humidity in the print sector, with the correct solution dependent on the level of humidity needed, the constraints of the area, the contents of the room, the air movement and budget, among many other factors. “What has made Condair successful in the print sector, with clients including Heidelberg and HP, is being able to provide expert application advice, alongside the most comprehensive range of humidifiers available,” Marshall-George says, adding: “Being the manufacturer, and not just a distributor, allows Condair to perfectly tailor a humidification system to the needs of a client, and deliver the manufacturer’s engineering knowledge on-site.” “Smaller rooms, for instance with a digital print machine, often only need a wall-mounted steam humidifier with a fan unit, such as the Condair EL. These humidifiers can provide from just a few kilos of steam per hour to around 40kg, with easy maintenance and good humidity control. “Larger print rooms often benefit from spray humidifiers, as they not only provide humidity control but also free evaporative cooling. This can be advantageous, given the waste heat generated by print machines.” Marshall-George adds that many older industrial buildings used by printers often email: news@printmonthly.co.uk July / August 2023 - Issue 343 suffer from poor ventilation, which can lead to excess air humidity causing condensation and mould on the building fabric, and excessive water absorption by the paper. Alongside humidifiers, Condair also offers a range of dehumidifiers to help alleviate these types of environmental issues. Quality and Efficiency Elsewhere and another provider of these solutions is DriSteem. Stephen Finkel, Western European regional sales manager at DriSteem, says that to produce high-quality printed products, print shops must maintain an appropriate level of moisture content in the air. ▲ Condair says larger print rooms often benefit from spray humidifiers ◄ DriSteem says print shops must maintain an appropriate level of moisture content in the air to produce highquality print Smaller rooms, for instance, with a digital print machine, often only need a wall-mounted steam humidifier with a fan unit NEED TO KNOW / HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEMS “Using humidifiers to boost humidity levels in an indoor space has lots of benefits for PSPs,” Finkel says, adding: “By investing in added humidification technology, printers can improve the quality and efficiency of their printing processes and extend the lifespan of their printing equipment, leading to long-term cost savings.” Singling out core benefits, Finkel says that the stand-out advantage is better print quality. Humidity levels affect paper properties like moisture content, stiffness, and curl, but when paper absorbs moisture from the air, it becomes more pliable and easier to handle which results in better print quality because the paper is less likely to curl or wrinkle during printing. “Low humidity levels can also cause inks to dry out quickly, leading to poor ink transfer and lower print quality,” Finkel says, adding: “With optimal humidity levels, inks stay at the right consistency, allowing for consistent and accurate ink transfer. Condair’s wall-mounted steam humidifier with a fan unit can provide up to 40kg of steam per hour 40kg
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