Pressroom Chemicals and Solutions

To speak poetically, offset printing is the mastery of liquids. From a tacky liquid ink to fountain solution to a myriad of cleaners and etches the quality offset printing requires a bevy of liquids. Ink and water form the foundation of function in printing but there are many other supporting solvents, cleaners, chemicals, and solutions that make it all work.

Etch

Plate etch is a lightweight wetting solution that is often manually wiped onto the plate just after a plate is loaded. The purpose of Etch is twofold, the first and most important roll is to help with the wetting process of the plate. Printing plates in offset printing must be sufficiently moist in order to properly pick up and transfer ink. Etching a plate just after it is loaded will supply a baseline of moisture onto the plate to help speed up the process of coming up to color. The second function of etch is also important to proper function of the plate. Etching the plate just after it's loaded into the printing press gives the operator a prime opportunity to wipe the plate clean of any dust or debris that may interrupt the printing process. Small particles within the printing unit can cause a multitude of problems. A quick wipe after loading can save an operator an afternoon of headaches.

Plate etch has several uses, the first and most important of which is to prewet and sensitize the plate. Etch will fully wet the plate and cause the non-image area to become hydrophillic, or water loving, and causing the image area to become hydrophobic, or water repulsive. The second use of plate etch is to simply clean the plate. Sometimes between the time that a plate is made from whatever plate making system is used and the time that the plate is used on press it can be exposed to dust and random particles that can cause problems in the printing process. Etching the plate is a great way to give your plate a wet wipe down that will remove any dust and debris from the surface and provide a problem free press run.

Deglazers

Deglazers do some tough work when it comes to cleaning. In the process of printing, the tight fit of rollers and constant flow of liquids through the ink and water train can cause buildup to occur in some really tough to reach places. Glazing occurs when buildup begins to develop, once a small spot of glazing occurs it will continue to grow much like mold on a sandwich. Deglazers come in specific formulas to attack specific types of glazing such as calcium buildup with the water system of a press, or the buildup of printing powder that has migrated into the ink train. There are also more universal deglazers that do a good job attacking all kinds of glaze buildup. Kill glazing before it causes problems and headaches.

Chrome Cleaner

Most printing cylinders are chromed for perfectly smooth surfaces. The printing process works at high pressures and cleanliness, especially at the point where rollers meet, is critical for proper operation. Chrome cleaners are tailer formulated to deglazer chromed rollers without damaging the surface.

Plate Cleaner

Often times plates for repeat jobs are stored rather than going throught the plate making process again. Restoring a plate to operation often requires a formulated plate cleaner. Plate cleaners help to remove gums used to preserve surface properties. Without the use of plate cleaners the reuse of plates would be nightmare.

Alcohol and substitutes

Alcohol has been a staple chemical used in the printing process since the early days. In printing there's a classic tug of war between ink and water and maintaining that balance is critical to proper problem-free printing. As an aid in that struggle printers have used additives in their water to help tailor the water properties. Alcohol in the dampening solution helps to make the water "wetter" and allow it to be metered out thinner for more precise control, this is especially important in printing at higher speeds
Alcohol is typically introduced as a 10-15% margin, water at 80% and the rest being a fountain concentrate.