Printing industry cooling
Offset printing depends on fountain solution at the right temperature, alcohol content and conductivity, and on ink rollers that stay at a stable temperature. SKiC services technotrans and Baldwin offset dampening units, alcohol dosing, ink roller temperature control and the technotrans omega.t cooling unit.
F-gas company certificate. A report with measurements after every visit. Mobile service in Poland and the EU.
Why temperature and dampening matter on an offset press
In offset printing the balance between ink and water decides the result. The fountain solution must wet the non-image areas of the plate evenly, without emulsifying into the ink. Its temperature affects viscosity and evaporation, its alcohol content affects surface tension, and its conductivity shows how much additive is present and how contaminated the solution has become. On the inking side, the roller temperature controls ink viscosity and tack. A few kelvin of drift is enough for scumming, toning, ghosting or colour variation across a run.
| Parameter | Typical value | Equipment that controls it |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain solution temperature | 10 to 15 °C | Offset dampening unit |
| Alcohol (IPA) content | 8 to 12 percent conventional, 0 to 5 percent alcohol-reduced | Alcohol dosing unit |
| pH of the fountain solution | About 4.8 to 5.5 | Additive dosing |
| Conductivity | Water value plus the additive increase, monitored for drift | Conductivity probe and controller |
| Ink roller temperature | 20 to 28 °C | Inking unit temperature control |
Equipment we service in print shops
Offset dampening units
technotrans alpha.c, beta.c and beta.d offset dampening units and Baldwin units prepare, filter, circulate and cool the fountain solution for the press. They contain a refrigeration circuit, circulation pumps, a filter system, a tank with level control, and the dosing for additive and alcohol. We service the whole unit: refrigeration, hydraulics, dosing and controls.
Alcohol dosing
Alcohol dosing units measure and dose isopropyl alcohol into the fountain solution. Typical faults are measuring cell errors, failed zero point calibration, sticking dosing valves and pump failures. A dosing unit that reports a wrong value drives the press to too much or too little alcohol without any visible alarm.
Conductivity probes
Conductivity probes drift with deposits and age. We clean, check and calibrate them against reference solutions, and replace probes that no longer respond correctly.
Cooling unit technotrans omega.t
The technotrans omega.t is a cooling unit that supplies cooling for ink roller temperature control and other press consumers. We service its refrigeration circuit, pumps, condenser and controls in the same way as other process cooling equipment.
Typical failures and their effect on print quality
- High pressure alarm on an offset dampening unit, usually from a condenser clogged with paper dust and spray powder. The fountain solution warms up, the press shows toning and the operators raise the alcohol content.
- Circulation pump failure, for example of the fluidos pump, so the solution no longer reaches all printing units evenly.
- Clogged filters and algae or bacterial growth in the tank and lines, leading to deposits on rollers and plate problems.
- Conductivity probe drift, so the additive dosing is wrong and pH moves out of range.
- Alcohol dosing errors after a failed autozero, giving unstable alcohol content during the run.
- Corroded evaporator in the fountain solution tank, with refrigerant escaping into the solution and the unit losing its cooling capacity.
- Ink roller temperature control unable to hold its setpoint because the cooling unit lacks capacity on hot days.
Each of these turns into waste sheets, stopped makereadies and reprints. Most of them can be prevented by cleaning condensers and filters on a schedule and by checking probes at every inspection.
How SKiC services printing equipment
- Inspection with measurements: fountain solution temperature at the tank and at the press, refrigerant pressures, condenser condition, pump pressures, alcohol content compared with a reference measurement, conductivity and pH.
- Cleaning of condensers, filters and tanks, coordinated with press downtime.
- Repairs of refrigeration circuits, pumps, dosing units, probes and controllers, on site or in the Wałsnów workshop.
- Replacement proposals where an old dosing unit or unit controller is no longer supported, including conversion from older alcohol dosing systems to current ones.
- A report after every visit with the measured values and recommendations.
For the process cooling side of the press room see process cooling, and for regular visits planned maintenance.
Questions from maintenance teams
How often should an offset dampening unit be serviced?
We recommend an inspection with condenser and filter cleaning every 6 months, and a tank cleaning with fresh fountain solution at intervals set by your additive supplier, often every few weeks to a few months.
Can you calibrate conductivity probes on site?
Yes. We clean the probe, check it with reference solutions and correct the controller. A probe that cannot be brought within tolerance is replaced.
Our press needs more and more alcohol. Why?
Typical reasons are a too warm fountain solution, worn dampening rollers, a contaminated solution or a dosing unit that reads too high. We measure temperature and alcohol content independently to find out which.
Do you service Baldwin equipment as well as technotrans?
Yes. We service technotrans and Baldwin dampening and dosing equipment independently of the manufacturers, after the warranty period.
Is the technotrans omega.t serviced like the dampening units?
The refrigeration work is similar, but the omega.t is a cooling unit for temperature control circuits, so we focus on its cooling capacity, pumps and water side rather than on dosing.
Stable dampening, fewer waste sheets
Send us the type and serial numbers of your dampening and dosing units with the current alarms, and we will plan an inspection.