Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) fulfills a number of key functions in offset printing. It reduces the surface tension of the dampening solution, ensures more effective wetting of the rollers and printing plate, and stabilizes the ink-water balance.
And yet by eliminating alcohol not only can you save costs and avoid delivery problems, but also protect the environment, improve the climate in the pressroom, and reduce your CO2 footprint.
When making the switch to alcohol-reduced/alcohol- free printing, it is vital that other components take over the functions previously fulfilled by the alcohol. This is now easily possible, without compromising quality or process reliability.
High IPA emissions can lead to headaches, nausea, and poor concentration. Reducing IPA is therefore also good for your employees’ health. Almost all industrialized nations have therefore set occupational exposure limits (OELs) for IPA.
Alcohol-free printing is a USP with environmentally aware customers. Reducing IPA thus enhances your image in the long term.
Pure IPA is flammable at 12 °C (53.6 °F). Dampening solution with 12 % IPA is flammable at 42 °C (107.6 °F). Reducing IPA lowers the risk of fire and explosion due to unfavorable conditions in the print shop or improper handling. Reducing or entirely eliminating IPA consumption is good for resources, improves the climate in the pressroom, and lowers risks to health, safety, and the environment.
When IPA is degraded by sunlight, ozone is produced. IPA, like almost all volatile organic compounds (VOCs), therefore contributes to summer smog. It also contributes to global warning and thus to the increase in the greenhouse effect. Reducing IPA is thus good for the environment and reduces your CO₂ footprint.
The purchase of IPA is subject to market fluctuations, as the crisis during the COVID 19 pandemic has made painfully clear. Eliminating IPA reduces this dependency on supply chains and cuts costs.
HEIDELBERG’s IPA service package ensures consistently high quality and optimum process reliability.
HEIDELBERG makes it easy for you to switch to alcoholreduced/ alcohol-free printing with a special IPA service package.
Our IPA service package includes:
*Disclaimer
There is no guarantee that the customer will be able to achieve the values and numbers (e.g. relating to the function and performance of the machine) specified on the website. The information provided is based on ideal conditions and proper use of the machine. Achieving these values and numbers depends on a variety of factors and circumstances that are outside the control of Heidelberg (e.g. machine settings, technical conditions, ambient conditions, raw materials and supplies used, consumables used, standard of care and maintenance of the machine, expertise of the operator, etc.). They therefore constitute neither characteristics of the machine nor a guarantee.
This website does not constitute a contractual offer and is solely for the purpose of providing (non-binding) information.
