Graphic Design & Printing Technology

Graphic Design & Printing Technology

ink over much of its area. The paper become more ink saturated with each
added colour, adhesion can build up between the sheet and blanket.

The ink printed last has some extra effect on the image. Hence for a sunset
scene magenta ink must printed last. In the same way for a sea scape, the cyan
may be printed last. The modern process inks print transparent ink film and
hence may be printed in any order. If opaque inks are used it must be printed
first.

Leading Offset machine manufacturers

International

Heidelberg (Germany)
Komori (Japan)
Mitsubishi (Japan)
Ryobi (Japan)
Fuji (Japan)
AB Dick (US)

Automation in Print Production

The make ready operations in offset printing include ink changing, cleaning,
sheet size and sheet travel changes, plate change, ink feed pre-setting, colour
register and ink feed setting. A pure manually operated machine needs 60 to
90 minutes of make ready for a four
colour job. An offset machine
assisted by automation has reduced
this time to about 15 to 20 minutes.
Automation has also lead to drastic
reduction in waste sheets. Here we
will discuss a few automated
operations developed by
manufacturers of offset machines.
Automatic Wash-up Procedures :-
In press with automated wash-up
device the blanket cylinder, the
impression cylinder and the inking
unit can be washed automatically
with a single wash-up device
installed. The cleaning device is
covered with a reel washing cloth
and liquid for cleaning operation.

Indian

HMT

Manugraph

Orient

Optima

Autoprint

Automated washing equipment with cleaning brush roll

a. Printing unit with washing equipment for blanket cylinder (1),

impression cylinder (2) and inking unit (3)

b. Blanket wash-up device