NEW TECHNOLOGY - JANUARY 2009
New rubber roll covers from Voith Paper for trouble-free coating & sizing
Voith Paper: LunaCoat and LunaSize, the new rubber roll covers from Voith Paper, are customized to
the very specific requirements, thus allowing trouble-free coating and sizing with minimum process variations.
LunaCoat and LunaSize, the new rubber roll covers from Voith Paper, are customized to the very
specific requirements, thus allowing trouble-free coating and sizing with minimum process variations. This is achieved by the Luna principle: a well-balanced mix of high-value fibres and functional fillers in the
rubber covers.
The fibre reinforcement provides superior mechanical and thermal properties. The damage resistance is maximized, thus avoiding unplanned shut-downs and achieves prolonged operating periods.
Functional fillers help to adjust the wear resistance and roughness of the Luna covers to the desired levels. In addition, the starch and coating will be improved. Therefore, extended run times are achieved
under reliable and stable conditions.
Printing blanket technology
Despite the growth of digital and inkjet printing technologies, most print – such as newspapers, books, leaflets and
packaging materials – is still produced using a traditional offset press. Although these machines vary enormously in size and complexity, and can cost up to millions of dollars, they all rely on a process in
which the ink is transferred – or offset – from a printing plate to a blanket (a polymer-coated composite fabric, wrapped around a cylinder on the press) and then from the blanket to the paper. The final
image quality depends entirely on an accurate transfer of ink, often at very high speeds and on to a variety of different types of paper.
The blankets fitted on a press that prints newspapers are different to
the blankets on a press producing, for example, packaging material, and new demands from the industry require significant investment in research and development to create products that meet the new challenges.
Heading the Research & Development (R&D) facilities at Trelleborg Printing Blankets, with plants in Italy, China and the US, is Rosanna Santorelli. "The company has about 50 years of experience of producing
blankets for offset presses – more than any other blanket manufacturer in the world," says Santorelli, who is based in Italy. "Part of my job is to make the best use of our extensive and unique knowledge by
integrating new ideas. This has involved improving working practices, control methods, as well as communications between departments and factories.
"One trend that has had a major impact on R&D, is that
the timeframe to bring new products to market has been drastically reduced," says Santorelli. "In the past, a long-term project could run for as long as five years, while it is only about two years today. To meet
this kind of deadline requires a rethink at every stage of the process, from market research, laboratory work, and testing, to customer trials and production.
Trelleborg Printing Blankets was awarded ISO
14001 certification in November 2007, an international standard for environmental management systems, for its plant in Lodi Vecchio, Italy. According to Santorelli, the ability to develop "environmentally friendly"
blankets is currently the aim of virtually every printing blanket manufacturer throughout the world.
"All of these companies are examining alternative materials for blankets and the ultimate aim would be a
biodegradable version," she emphasizes. "A radical breakthrough in this area is almost certainly a long way off for any company, but we can be proud of the achievements being made in a wide range of areas. In
particular, I think that the Lodi Vecchio plant is a shining light within Italian industry.
For further information, contact rosanna.santorelli@trelleborg.com or visit www.trelleborg.com/Vulcan.
