The Printing and Graphic Arts Committee (PGAC) of the Pulp and Paper Technical Association Canada (PAPTAC), organized a technical session during Paperweek International on February 6, 2008 in Montreal. I attended the afternoon session and, as a manufacturer of pressroom chemistry, I was impressed with not only the expertise of the speakers but with the content and style of their messages as well.
The session chairman, Mr. Jean-François Cuillerier of Quebecor World, asked each of the five panelists to make a brief presentation, which was followed by a question and answer period with the audience. The panelists were Mr. Patrick Gane, Omya; Jean Hamel, FPInnovations; Mike Thibault, Unigraph International Inc.; William Munden, MG Technologies; Lorenzo Morandini, Quebecor World.
Mr. Gane, Head of R&D at Omya and professor of printing technology at Helsinki University, explained the different mechanisms of micropermeability of a fountain solution in various porous paper structures. Mr. Jean Hamel, who works in pressroom runnability at FPInnovations, spoke on tools to improve performance. He focused on the impact of cost, performance and production losses of web breaks. The tension variation and strength distribution determine the number of breaks. He encouraged us to evaluate paper strength, work with printers to reduce draw variations, improve roll consistence in terms of roundness and improve handling practice of rolls. He also spoke on the importance of machine direction tensile strength for optimum runnability and the importance of roll tension uniformity and roll structure.
Mr. Mike Thibault, Unigraph International Inc.’s Vice-President technical services, stimulated questions on fountain solution and paper issues, such as what happens when paper contaminates a press and what can be done to decrease the impact. Are you ready for stochastic screening and can your press handle it? Are the new technology inks suitable for your application and what do you have to do to be successful? Can you still use the same pressroom chemicals if you use conventional, CTP, or non process plates? Thibault also spoke on preventative maintenance and the need to deglaze your rollers and clean your water system if you want to save time and money. The fountain solution—though it is the smallest cost in the print equation—has the biggest impact on consistency of quality.
Mr. William Munden, of MG Technologies, explained their view of tomorrow’s paper and its environmental impact. He also touched on the European initiative to reduce solvent use by as much as 90%, and the new and unique patented aerodynamic equipment which removes over 99% of paper dust from a paper web.
Mr. Lorenzo Morandini, Director of ink standardization at Quebecor World Printing touched on North America vs Europe. He compared printing standards, ink, fountain solution, alkaline papers and high pH solutions, and opaque and transparent inks. The main topics of discussion were paper, ink, pressroom chemistry, blankets, plates, quality, environment, communication, techniques on how to solve problems, systematic approach to problem solving and the pressroom of the future with faster, wider and larger presses.
The panelists responded very well to questions on these various topics. Several questions were in reference to press chemistry, such as fountain solution types and their dosage, controlling pH and conductivity, interaction of the fountain solution with ink and paper substates, and the need to ensure proper training for the maintenance of press equipment.
The lively discussion from the audience clearly identified the continual need to train our employees to face the challenges of the future as well as the need to be proactive in our communications between all parties in the graphic arts industry.
The session was to come to a close at 4:30 pm, but at 4:50, the discussion was still going strong. Needless to say, all of us in the graphic arts industry must learn, know and understand what the future holds.
