Released by the National Bureau of Statistics In 2023, the national economy will recover and improve, with solid progress in high-quality development. We comprehensively deepened reform and opening up, intensified macro-control, and worked hard to expand domestic demand, optimize the structure, boost confidence, and guard against risks. China's economy has rebounded, supply and demand have steadily improved, and transformation and upgrading have made positive progress. Employment and prices have remained stable, people's livelihood has been effectively protected, and high-quality development has made solid progress. From the perspective of economic growth, China's GDP will exceed 126 trillion yuan in 2023, with a growth rate of 2.2 percentage points higher than that in 2022. According to the quarter, the former low, medium high and stable trend was further consolidated, showing a good trend. Calculated at comparable prices, the economic added value in 2023 will exceed 6 trillion yuan, equivalent to the annual economic output of a medium-sized country. The per capita GDP will increase steadily, reaching 89,000 yuan in 2023, up 5.4% year on year. In terms of prices, the overall growth remained moderate, with CPI up 0.2% for the year and core CPI up 0.7%. General situation of customs statistics From January to December 2023, the value of general trade exports was $2.2 trillion, down 2.9% year-on-year, and the value of imports was $1.7 trillion, down 4% year-on-year. From the perspective of the international balance of payments, the export of goods increased by 0.6% for the year, and the foreign exchange reserves at the end of the year exceeded 3.2 trillion US dollars.   China printing and equipment import and export data   1.Printing equipment The import and export data of printing equipment from January to December 2023 are shown in Table 1.   2. Printing material The import and export data of printing material (including ink)  from January to December 2023 are shown in Table 2.   3. Printed matters The import and export data of printed matter from January to December 2023 are shown in Table 3.   Conclusion 1. From January to December 2023, import and export of printing equipment (1) Imported web offset press 3.18 million US dollars, an increase of 114%, the growth rate is larger; Exports of web offset presses fell by 28% in the same period. Exports of sheeted offset presses (excluding monochrome offset presses) amounted to US $160 million, an increase of 38%. Sheet-fed offset presses (excluding monochrome offset presses) continued to import a large amount of US $620 million. Among them, the import from Germany was 460 million US dollars, accounting for about 3/4 of the total import amount; $150 million in imports from Japan. (2) The amount of imports of gravure printing presses fell by 55%, with a large decline. 2. From January to December 2023, import and export of printing equipment (1) The export amount of PS version decreased by 25% year-on-year. (2) Imported flexo mainly from developed countries. The largest source countries for imports are Germany and Japan, with a combined import volume of 456,000 m2, accounting for 73% of the total import volume. (3) The average export price of black ink is $4,700 /t, and the average import price is $32,000 /t. The average export price of other printing inks is $4,700 /t, and the average import price is $33,000 /t. Import prices are about seven times higher than export prices.   From January to December 2023, from the import and export statistics of printed matter, the United States is one of the main markets for printed matter exports.

Introducing UV Pantone High Concentration Ink – the epitome of innovation and performance in the world of printing. Crafted meticulously with a blend of UV curable acrylic resin, photoinitiator, active diluent, pigments, and additives, this exceptional product stands out as a true game-changer.   What sets this remarkable ink apart from the rest is its commitment to environmental sustainability. By forgoing the use of solvents and volatile raw materials, it embraces an eco-friendly approach. Not only does it reduce harmful emissions, but it also contributes to energy conservation, making it a responsible choice for businesses seeking a greener future.   Imagine a world where your printed materials leave a lasting impact. With UV Pantone High Concentration Ink, your vision becomes a vibrant reality. Experience the marvel of stable printing, seamlessly balanced by cutting-edge technology. Every stroke yields impeccable results that captivate the eye.   Brace yourself for the astonishing speed of UV curing. Gone are the days of endless waiting for prints to dry. Harnessing the power of UV light, this ink celebrates a swift and efficient curing process. Embrace productivity like never before as your projects come to life, leaving you with ample time to embark on new creative endeavors.   Be prepared to be bewitched by a mesmerizing palette of ink colors. With an unrivaled level of saturation, your designs will evoke emotions and ignite inspiration. Whether it's vivid reds, serene blues, or captivating yellows, every shade emerges with a brilliance that is sure to leave an indelible impression.   But it doesn't stop there. The versatility and adaptability of UV Pantone High Concentration Ink are truly extraordinary. It adheres impeccably to a variety of coated and uncoated paper stocks, ensuring consistent excellence across your printing initiatives. Step into a world of endless possibilities as you explore the limitless potential of this exceptional ink.   And let us not forget the test of time. Embracing impeccable aging resistance, this ink defies the wear and tear that comes with the passage of time. Your impeccably printed materials will withstand the elements and maintain their allure, leaving a lasting impression far into the future.   UV Pantone High Concentration Ink – where artistry and innovation merge. Discover a world of endless creativity and unrivaled performance. Elevate your printing experience and unleash the true potential of your creations. Step into a future where excellence in printing knows no bounds.

Every year on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, in China, it is a day for family reunions and a traditional cultural festival popular among all ethnic groups in the country. Because this day is just the third half of autumn, so named "Mid-Autumn Festival". It is said that the moon on this night is the largest, roundest and brightest, so since ancient times, people have the Mid-Autumn Festival night, and the family together to feast the custom of appreciating the moon, the daughter-in-law of the mother's home must return to the husband's home on this day, meaning complete and auspicious. Mid-Autumn Festival originated in ancient times, popular in the Han Dynasty, shaped in the early Tang Dynasty, popular after the Song Dynasty, and the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and known as China's four traditional festivals. The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the worship of the sky, and evolved from the ancient autumn festival to the moon. Since ancient times, the Chinese people have the custom of offering sacrifices to the moon, enjoying the full moon, eating mooncakes, watching lanterns, appreciating osmanthus flowers and drinking osmanthus wine on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. After several changes in the thousands of years of inheritance, the spirit of "family reunion" has become the main cultural connotation of today's Mid-Autumn Festival. On May 20, 2006, the Mid-Autumn Festival was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list by The State Council. On January 1, 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival was listed as a national holiday by The State Council. This "day and night" system continued until the Qing Dynasty. It can be said that "the gift of the evening moon" opened the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is one of the important factors in the formation of a traditional cultural festival. The main activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival revolve around the "moon". In the Mid-Autumn Festival, people play and admire the moon, and a lot of customs related to the moon have been derived, and continue to this day. Since Tang and Song dynasties, it has become a habit to eat moon cakes on Mid-Autumn Day. The moon cake is shaped like a circle, which symbolizes the circle and is widely welcomed by the people. In the Mid-Autumn Festival, people not only provide moon cakes, eat moon cakes, but also give moon cakes to each other as gifts, which is the good wish of the people for reunion and harmony. Moon cakes are also called "reunion cakes". On this reunion day, the people return home as scheduled on this day, relatives and friends gather, sit together, eat a "reunion dinner", drink a "reunion wine". This also reflects the belief in the definition of happiness and beauty and the survival of generations in the traditional Chinese agricultural society, which emphasizes family and ethics. In modern society, there are many kinds of moon cakes, various flavors and fillings, everything, and the packaging of moon cake boxes is also dazzling, exquisite and novel. Every one or two months before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the printing factory is almost all kinds of exquisite mooncake box printing business. In the major shopping malls, filled with exquisite mooncake gift boxes, people will choose their favorite moon cakes, give relatives and friends, bring each other a good meaning and blessing. These mooncake boxes not only carry creativity and beauty, but also inherit people's respect and continuation of traditional culture. Mooncake box packaging printing will use a variety of printing processes, here we also summarize some printing processes and their characteristics. UV process The characteristics of the UV process : on the surface of ordinary offset paper, or BOPP matte film, the screen printing process is used to coat the pattern on the mooncake box, so that the coating area forms a strong contrast with the matte or bright surface. The choice of printing ink also very important. Bulking process The main method is to use pressure to transfer the pattern to the surface of the mooncake box paper. Through the embossing process to produce relief effect, so that the moon cake box packaging more beautiful theme more vivid, more rich touch. Coating technology Mooncake box after the film surface more stain resistance, water resistance, wear resistance, smooth, bright, the surface color will become more bright and beautiful, not easy to wear, mooncake box wear resistance, folding resistance, tensile and moisture resistance are better, enhance and beautify the mooncake box surface appearance effect. Die cutting and indentation process Die-cutting indentation process is a commonly used process in the mooncake box packaging prints, this process can be according to the design requirements of the mooncake box product design pattern with a die-cutting knife die cut into the required shape or mark forming process, so that the mooncake box packaging can express the meaning of Mid-Autumn Festival reunion to people. Hot stamping process Mooncake box paper stamping has the characteristics of clear pattern, beautiful, bright colors, etc., in the mooncake box packaging stamping, can play a role in highlighting the mooncake box design theme of beautification products. As a professional ink manufacturer, Daihei Ink is happy to add more colors to the world, show professionalism, and make the world more wonderful!   Here Daihei ink also in advance wish all the new and old friends at home and abroad happy holidays, happy reunion, business is booming!  

Four-color printing Four-color printing is to use CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) four primary colors to overprint the color that customers need. In popular terms, it is the use of the different superposition of these four colors to get the required color, as long as the color has a gradual change is a four-color overprint. Four-color printing is superimposed with dots, and if you use a magnifying glass you can see dots of different colors. Spot color printing Spot color printing refers to the printing process of using other spot color inks other than yellow, magenta, cyan and black ink to reproduce the color of the original manuscript. In packaging printing, spot color printing process is often used to print a large area of background color. Spot color printing is a single color, no gradient, the pattern is ground, and the dot is not visible with a magnifying glass. Spot color ink Refers to a pre-mixed specific color ink, such as fluorescent pink, reflex blue, metal gold and silver ink, etc., it is not overprinted by CMYK four-color, color means accurate color. Spot color ink has three characteristics: 1. Accuracy Each set of colors has its own fixed hue, so it can ensure the accuracy of the color in printing, thus solving the problem of color transmission accuracy to a large extent. 2. Facticity Spot colors generally define a color by a solid color, no matter how light that color is. Of course, it is also possible to Tint the spot color to render any shade of the spot color. 3. Wide color gamut The color gamut in the color library is so wide that it exceeds the RGB representation gamut, not to mention the CMYK color space, so there is a large part of the color that cannot be rendered with CMYK four-color printing ink.

Introduction: In recent years, the presence of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOHs) in food has gained attention due to concerns about their potential health risks. MOHs consist of two main categories: mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH). These contaminants can enter the food supply chain through various sources, including packaging materials and processing equipment. Understanding MOAH and MOSH is essential for ensuring the safety of our food. In this blog post, we will explore what MOAH and MOSH are, their sources, and the measures taken to minimize their presence in food.     What are MOAH and MOSH? MOSH and MOAH are types of mineral oil hydrocarbons commonly found in food products. MOSH, or mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, are composed of saturated hydrocarbons, which are considered less harmful than their aromatic counterparts. MOAH, or mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons, consists of aromatic hydrocarbons, some of which are classified as potential carcinogens and are of greater concern from a health perspective. Both MOSH and MOAH can be derived from various mineral oil sources, including crude oil and its derivatives.   Sources of MOAH and MOSH Contamination:   Packaging Materials: One of the primary sources of MOAH and MOSH contamination in food is through packaging materials. Recycled paper and cardboard, in particular, may contain residues from printing inks or recycled board production, which can transfer MOAH and MOSH to food. Lubricants and Greases: Lubricants and greases used in machinery and equipment during food processing can contain MOHs. If these substances are not adequately controlled or if contamination occurs, MOAH and MOSH can find their way into the final food products.   Environmental Contamination: Another potential source of MOAH and MOSH contamination is environmental exposure. These substances can be present in the air, soil, and water due to industrial activities, vehicle emissions, or oil spills. Contaminated agricultural produce may introduce MOAH and MOSH into the food chain.   Health Risks and Regulations: The health risks associated with MOAH and MOSH depend on the levels of exposure and the specific compounds involved. Long-term exposure to high levels of MOAH may pose a potential risk of developing cancer, while MOSH can accumulate in human tissues, such as liver and lymph nodes, although it is considered less harmful.   To ensure food safety, regulatory authorities have established guidelines and regulations to monitor and control MOAH and MOSH levels in food. These regulations often specify maximum limits for MOAH and MOSH or require preventive measures to minimize contamination throughout the food production process.   Minimizing MOAH and MOSH in Food: Food industry stakeholders have implemented various measures to minimize MOAH and MOSH contamination and ensure the safety of food products:   Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): Adhering to GMP guidelines helps prevent cross-contamination during food production, including effective cleaning and maintenance practices, proper handling of lubricants and greases, and the use of suitable materials in packaging.   Migration Testing: Packaging materials are subject to migration testing to identify potential sources of MOAH and MOSH contaminants. By using suitable barrier materials and coatings, migration can be effectively minimized.     Quality Assurance and Supplier Control: Implementing rigorous quality assurance programs and maintaining strong supplier control can help minimize the risk of MOAH and MOSH contamination. Regular audits and testing of raw materials and finished products ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.   Material Selection: Choosing packaging materials and processing equipment that have been specifically designed to prevent MOAH and MOSH migration is crucial. The use of virgin fibers and appropriate additives in paper and board production can reduce contamination risks.   Conclusion: Mineral oil hydrocarbons, including MOSH and MOAH, are potential contaminants that can enter the food supply chain through packaging materials and processing equipment. While MOSH is generally considered less harmful, MOAH compounds have raised concerns due to their potential carcinogenic properties. To ensure food safety, strict regulations, good manufacturing practices, migration testing, quality assurance, and careful material selection are essential in minimizing MOAH and MOSH levels in food products. By taking proactive measures, industry stakeholders can continue to provide consumers with safe and high-quality food while addressing the issue of mineral oil hydrocarbon contamination.

The recent revelation of Japan's plans to release nuclear wastewater into the ocean raises concerns about their commitment to environmental preservation. Despite their advancements in ink technology, it is disheartening to witness such a disregard for the well-being of the planet. This self-serving mindset undermines the progress they have made in the ink industry. In contrast, China has been at the forefront of developing and promoting eco-friendly inks. With a growing emphasis on sustainability, Chinese ink manufacturers have invested significantly in research and development to create inks that minimize environmental impact without compromising on quality. Chinese eco-friendly inks incorporate advanced technologies that ensure reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful substances. These inks are formulated to have lower toxicity levels, making them safer for both human health and the environment. Additionally, they adhere to stricter environmental regulations, promoting a greener and more responsible approach to ink production. The rise of eco-friendly inks in China is not merely a result of technological advancement but also a reflection of a collective commitment to environmental stewardship. Chinese society has started embracing sustainable practices, recognizing the importance of protecting the Earth for future generations. Supporting Chinese inks not only encourages the growth of a domestic industry but also underscores the significance of environmentally friendly practices. By choosing Chinese eco-friendly inks, businesses and individuals can contribute to reducing their carbon footprint and promoting a cleaner and healthier planet. In conclusion, Japan's recent action regarding nuclear wastewater discharge brings into question their dedication to environmental conservation. While they have excelled in ink technology, their nation's self-centered mindset is not praiseworthy. Meanwhile, China's ink market is witnessing a rise in eco-friendly options, with advanced and mature technology. It is crucial to support Chinese eco-friendly inks as they represent a more responsible and sustainable choice for a greener future.

China has been producing ink for a long time. The predecessor of ink is loose ink. China uses pine smoke, gum (mainly kraft glue, which plays the role of binding soot) and water to make black ink. It was first used for writing and later used in the woodblock printing industry. Ink developed rapidly in the early days in China. After the Middle Ages, it has been complacent, satisfied with traditional secret recipes, and not very creative. At that time, woodblock printing in Europe was also mainly water-based, but the application was not good, so it was changed to oil. Later evolved into modern printing inks. The development of printing technology stimulates the development of the ink industry, and inks with multiple functions and high quality have appeared to meet various printing requirements.   It is internationally recognized that China is the first country to use ink in ancient civilizations. As early as the Han Dynasty (BC200), China began to use ink.This ink can be used to write and convey information on bamboo and silk. Some of its functions can be compared with contemporary ink phase analogy.   The development of the ink and the development of the printing plate go hand in hand, because the two do not match, the imprint will not be clear, the ink film will fall off, and the printing quality will be affected. For example, the printing plate was in the period of engraving woodblocks, and the ink was made by uniformly mixing and drying the charcoal and gum after burning the wood, which was water-soluble. When printing, ink is applied to the plate, and then the paper is placed on it, and then gently wiped with a cloth or brush, and the graphics on the engraving block can be transferred to the paper through the ink. During the development of the metal plate, because the water-based ink could not be evenly applied to the plate, oil-based ink was invented, which was made by evenly dispersing the pigment in the oil. The original ink pigments are natural inorganic minerals, and the binder is vegetable or animal fat. This kind of ink has slow drying speed, poor gloss of printed products, and poor adhesion to substrates. With the development of the chemical industry, it has brought vitality to the ink industry. New synthetic resins and high-grade organic pigments are widely used in the ink manufacturing, which makes the ink varieties more abundant and the performance better.The development of ink has entered a new stage, and finally the traditional lithography, letterpress, gravure, and screen printing have a complete and mature ink system.   With the advancement of human civilization and the development of the printing industry, substrate materials are constantly being developed and expanded, and printing methods are constantly being introduced. The production process of ink is more sophisticated, and the types and varieties of ink products continue to increase. For example, the promotion of waterless offset printing technology has increased the demand for waterless offset printing inks, and the rise of flexible digital printing has also brought digital printing inks to the stage of history. There is also a strong call for green environmental protection, which has set off the re-selection of ink raw materials and the reform of manufacturing processes, such as water-based inks, soybean-based offset printing inks, UV inks, and FB inks. Ink, the largest source of pollution in the printing industry, is working hard to reduce the volatilization of its organic compounds and the application of harmful metals. We have reason to believe that the future development of the ink industry will move towards the general direction of caring for life, embracing nature, and a harmonious society.

Flint Group announced on the 1st of this month that its entire range of sheetfed printing inks are now free of mineral oil. As we know our Daihei Ink has developed an environmentally friendly ink that does not contain mineral oil-NON VOC series in 2015. Since its development, our product technology and series have been continuously improved. At present, in response to market demand, we have developed conventional NON-VOC four-color ink DAIICHI-AF NON VOC and SONTRA NON VOC, also have Pantone series spot colors of NON VOC. However, due to the high price of raw materials for NON VOC series products, the current market price of this product is higher than that of ordinary inks.And the current mainstream of the market is still mineral oil and vegetable oil, so it need time for the market to adjust and adapt.   Recent years have seen growing concerns over the environmental effects of mineral oil-based inks. For example, since January this year, France has prohibited using more than 1% mineral oil in printing inks for commercial and packaging applications with this limit reducing to just 0.1% by 2025, signaling the start of changing regulations worldwide. So we believe that in the near future, our NON-VOC series will spread all over the world.

International Paper announced a company rebrand to align with its strategic vision to Build a Better IP through sustainable, profitable growth and accelerated value creation. As the company celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, the rebrand highlights the resilience of International Paper, the sustainability of its mission and its commitment to creating what's next.The new branding is rooted in the company's legacy of safety, ethics and stewardship. It embodies a renewed sense of purpose, energy, and optimism, and marks another major milestone in the evo-lution of International Paper."IP is meeting today's needs for renewable, fiber-based packaging and pulp while sharpening our focus on the future," said Mark Sutton, chairman of the board and CEO, International Paper. "As we embark on the next 125 years, we are here for what's now and creating what's next for our stakeholders."The new branding will be rolled out globally beginning this month and includes an updated website which will launch soon. The site will provide an enhanced experience for customers and act as a one-stop-shop for stakeholders to see first-hand IP's commitment to being among the most successful, sustainable and responsible companies in the world.   Printing Industrial     Offset ink printing    Sheet fed offset ink    CMYK Offset ink

The low-migration web offset inks have been tested in extensive field trials with well-known brand owners, printers and paper manufacturers. (Source: hubergroup)   02.23.23   Paper packaging is becoming increasingly popular in the food sector due to its good recyclability. Web offset printers can now also benefit from this increasing demand as hubergroup Print Solutions is launching the first coldset and heatset inks for food-compliant paper packaging.While printers can thus build up another mainstay, the food industry has a new opportunity to design sustainable paper packaging in a colourful and creative way. The mineral oil-free and low-migration ink series MGA FOOD NEWS and MGA EVOLUTION are initially available in Europe and Asia.Until now, low-migration offset inks were only used in sheetfed printing. A new binder developed by hubergroup has paved the way for this innovation in web offset printing.“With the help of a special binder and the careful selection of raw materials as well as production methods, we have succeeded in developing the first low-migration and low-odor web offset inks,” said Thomas Stumpf, director Web Offset at hubergroup. “As safety and sustainability are our top priorities, we worked closely with our sheetfed offset experts who have been developing inks for food packaging for many years."In addition to thorough laboratory work, hubergroup has carried out extensive practical tests in cooperation with well-known brand owners, printers, and the special paper manufacturer DREWSEN.With these new printing inks, it is possible for the first time to produce food-compliant paper packaging in large quantities using four-color printing in web offset. Food manufacturers can thus make their packaging more colorful, for example, by reproducing their products true-to-life on it. Seasonally or regionally changing designs are also possible and affordable even in small quantities, allowing large and small retailers to become even more creative with their packaging.Both the coldset series MGA FOOD NEWS and the heatset series MGA EVOLUTION are ideal for printing on packaging of baked goods, fast food such as burgers or wraps, and products from the deli counter, but also for all other paper packaging in the food sector. Printers can use the new ink series on all common coldset or heatset machines and are supported by the hubergroup service team during implementation.

In the printing process, the wrinkling of printed sheets is one of the main causes of waste and paper waste, and such failures are especially serious in some medium and small printing factories, and operators are also very troubled by this. So, how can we troubleshoot and save paper in a timely and effective manner? First of all, we should have a clear understanding of the pleating failure of printed sheets and understand the reasons for it, so that we can take corresponding preventive and solution measures.   1.Faulty or improperly adjusted printing equipment Taking sheet-fed offset printing as an example, the phenomenon of wrinkling of printed sheets caused by improper equipment adjustment and the solutions are as follows. 01Improper adjustment of feeding and feeding parts is one of the main causes of wrinkling of printed sheets. The position of the press wheel or the top paper wheel and the top paper brush wheel on the paper feeding plate is wrong, and the paper is pushed to the middle so that the paper has bowed and wrinkled at the front gauge, so the uneven part is pressed into wrinkled.   Solution: Adjust the position of the pressure roller, the top paper roller, etc., so that it is beneficial to flatten the paper. 02 The surface of the impression cylinder is not clean, and the accumulated ink layer is too thick, resulting in local pressure changes. Solution: Pay attention to equipment maintenance and wash the impression cylinder frequently. 03 The impression part is the main body of the printing press, and the wrinkling of the printed sheet is caused by the extrusion of this part. If the printing pressure is too high, the paper at the individual grippers will slide relative to each other, causing the surface of the paper to be uneven. Solution: Appropriately reduce the printing pressure or increase the grip force of the impression cylinder gripper teeth. 04 The grippers are too light on one or both ends of the paper. Solution: Calibrate the grip force of the gripper teeth, replace the tooth pad if it is a problem with the tooth pad, replace the tooth pad if it is a problem with the tooth sheet, and increase the pressure of the compression spring if the problem is insufficient pressure of the compression spring. 05The jaws of the swinging jaws are uneven. When the jaws are closed, the jaws of the paper are wavy, which shortens the feeding width of the paper. Once embossed, divergent wrinkles will appear. Solution: Leveling braces. If it is caused by severe wear of the tooth pads, replace with a new set of tooth pads, or plan all the tooth pads uniformly, roughen the parts that touch the paper, and lower the tooth pads properly, generally with the tooth table The gap is 0.2mm plus the thickness of a piece of paper. 06The positioning position of the side rules is wrong, one or both ends of the paper corners are in the gap of the paper delivery grippers or only half of the grippers. Solution: Properly adjust the position of the side gauge to avoid the gap between the gripper teeth of the paper delivery. 07The gripping force of the gripper teeth in the middle part is too loose, resulting in the phenomenon that the paper cannot be gripped, and the printed sheet is pulled out during printing. Solution: Calibrate the grip force of the gripper teeth. 08Two or more gripper teeth of the impression roller are too loose within a certain length, and even the paper cannot be gripped; When the roller gripper catches the paper and presses it, the axial length of the paper is shortened, and the paper produces large diffuse folds from the gripper. Solution: Adjust the corresponding gripper teeth and paper delivery teeth. 09The previous positioning is not on a straight line, so that the amount of gripper is more on one side and less on the other. Under the action of printing pressure, the part with less amount of gripper is likely to come out of the gripper teeth and cause wrinkles. Solution: Adjust the front gauge to make the amount of paper on both sides consistent. 10The jaw pads of the impression cylinder are uneven, and when the paper is gripped, the edge of the paper will form a wave shape, and the grip part will be partially wrinkled. Solution: Adjust the height of the gripper teeth. 11If the transfer and coordination of the paper between the various color groups is improper before embossing, resulting in the change of the length of the paper at the edge of the mouth, the trailing tip is easy to wrinkle. Solution: Adjust the paper delivery time. 2. paper uneven The inherent disadvantages of paper raw materials are one of the important reasons for the unevenness of printed sheets. For example, during the manufacturing process of paper, although the fiber bundles are broomified, the microscopic unevenness, uneven internal stress, and insufficient strength of the paper may make the paper uneven. Uneven and wrinkled when printed. If the paper itself is deformed, such as ruffles, tight edges, warping at both ends, etc., it is easy to cause the printed sheet to wrinkle. Most of the wrinkles produced by the ruffles are around the printed sheet, most of the wrinkles produced by the tight edge are located in the middle of the printed sheet, and most of the wrinkles produced by the warping at both ends are located at both ends of the printed sheet. For the slight deformation of thin paper (coated paper, double-adhesive paper), the paper can be leveled by knocking the paper and adding a paper press at the front gauge to avoid or reduce the wrinkling of the printed sheet; if the deformation is serious, it is necessary to Solve it by hanging and drying. For thick paper (cardboard, cardboard) that warps upward at both ends or bows upward in the middle, it is generally leveled by reverse kneading and bending. Regardless of whether it is thin paper or thick paper, the printing factory should put the uncut printing paper in the printing workshop about a week in advance to make it adapt to the temperature and humidity of the workshop, and then cut it on the machine. 3. Ink viscosity is too high If the printed sheet is large and solid, the amount of ink in the layout is large, and the viscosity of the ink is high, the printed sheet is prone to arc-shaped wrinkles in the middle or second half. Solution: Reduce the viscosity of the ink. If it is a spot color ink, you can also adjust the hue of the ink to reduce the amount of ink. In addition, you should also pay attention to the influence of the ambient temperature.   4. The influence of the external environment Effect of air humidity on paper moisture content. In the printing process, the paper is squeezed by the roller, in order to ensure the quality of the printed product, the paper is required to have better flatness. However, the structure and composition of paper determine that they have strong hydrophilicity and dehydration, and linear deformation and shape deformation will occur during use. For example, the phenomenon of "tight edge" and "lotus leaf edge" are typical faults caused by these two deformations, and are also the main reason for the wrinkling of printed sheets.   Therefore, strictly controlling the moisture content of the paper and printing with flat paper is also of positive significance to prevent the wrinkling of the printed sheet; in addition, it should be prevented in the actual application process. 01 Small diverging folds caused by paper "ruffles". Solution: Hang it to dry paper, baking paper, etc. 02 The thin and straight wrinkles caused by the "tight edge" of the paper, plus the horizontal arc-shaped wrinkles caused by the unreasonable drum lining. Solution: Adjust the lining of the drum to make the line speed consistent, and then humidify the paper, hang it to dry, etc.   To sum up, the paper wrinkling failure is actually caused by many reasons. The failure always occurs after the printed sheet is uneven. When there is a printing sheet wrinkling failure, we should first analyze what is the reason. Analysis, careful study, the problem is not difficult to solve.

Led by growth in UV LED, interest in energy-curable inks is on the rise, driven by energy cost savings and sustainability benefits. David Savastano, Editor03.08.23 Energy curing has been one of the steadiest growth markets in the ink industry. There are plenty of reasons why the market has been successful; years ago, people cited the instant cure, which allows for faster processing, but the sustainability benefits and energy cost savings of UV and EB inks are of great interest today.   Ultraviolet (UV) and UV LED remain the largest portion of the market, with electron beam (EB) a smaller share. Anecdotally, UV LED is the fastest growing sub-section of the market. Overall, energy curable inks are a sizable business, with consultants placing overall sales at between $2 billion and $3 billion annually.   In terms of companies, UV/EB inks are produced by a wide range of manufacturers. All of the major international ink industry leaders are in the UV ink segment, and there are a few companies – T&K Toka and Zeller+Gmelin – that are primarily focused on energy curable inks and coatings.   In speaking with industry leaders, the UV ink business was solid again in 2022, with more good news on the way. Niklas Olsson, global director product & commercial excellence, Narrow Web at Flint Group, noted that market intelligence suggests the market for energy curing technology is stable with some minor growth, while Hideyuki Hinataya, GM of the Overseas Ink Sales Division at T&K Toka, reported that power-saving UV printing is growing continuously in 2022, partly due to a switch from conventional printing.   Ed Dedman, flexo technical support/product manager for Zeller+Gmelin Corp., said that overall, the energy curing inks market remained strong in 2022.   “Sales were somewhat impacted by raw material availability, but we were able to push through and maintain a strong sales and supply position,” Dedman reported.   Alexander Blasek, global project manager UV flexo at hubergroup, noted that in 2022, the global UV flexo market remained stable with a slight positive trend.   “Also at the beginning of 2023, we see that this positive trend continues,” added Blasek. “We expect the market for UV flexo applications to further grow within the next few years.”   “UV sheetfed offset printing also continued to grow in the packaging market while the market for UV commercial printing is already saturated in Europe,” noted Roland Schröder, product manager UV Europe at hubergroup.   “It was a challenging year for the printing industry, and the ink industry in general,” said Jonathan Graunke, VP - UV/EB technology and assistant R&D director for INX International Ink Co. “Energy curable technologies were not immune to the supply chain challenges, which made for difficult decisions in the procurement of materials and came at considerable cost. Printers were faced with substrate shortages, and of course labor challenges impacted all. I am really proud of how the INX team embraced the challenges and were able to keep open the supply chain for energy curable ink. This led to a steady year in 2022, and I believe it has opened new opportunities for growth moving forward. I am also personally deeply appreciative of how some of our suppliers were able to support us and the industry.”   Jim Bishop, product manager UV, EB & conventional offset products at Sun Chemical, said that this past year saw the market for energy curable inks and coatings continue to grow.   “Depending on the end use segment, we feel this growth is ranging between 2% and 3%,” Bishop continued. “Many new large format, high-speed UV sheetfed presses were installed in the North America market, and this trend is expected to continue as these new presses bring strong productivity gains. The use of LED for flexo, narrow web, and commercial applications remains very strong too.”   Fabian Köhn, global head of narrow web product management at Siegwerk, reported that the two principal and predominant topics for energy curing inks in 2022 were the high costs and the availability of raw materials.   “This put a big burden and pressure on both ink suppliers and printers,” Köhn said. “Generally, the industry managed this challenge quite well showing an overall stable business in most regions throughout the year. Only China had a particular hard time with several large lockdowns due to the country’s zero COVID policy in 2022 leading to a decline in business in comparison to 2021.” The UV LED Market   Without a doubt, the fastest growing portion of the energy curable ink business is UV LED. Aside from concerns over the regulatory future of mercury lights, which power conventional UV curing, UV LED offers significant additional benefits for users.   “The general consensus is LED is growing more rapidly,” Graunke said. “Press manufacturers have embraced LED UV curing, and virtually all new narrow web flexo and sheetfed presses have the option to have LED installed. The efficiencies of LED UV and the absence of ozone from a UV lamp make installations less complex with the elimination of certain air flow ducting.”   Graunke added that retrofitting is also a much simpler process.   “UV lamp manufacturers have developed solutions that allow for the conversion of existing UV systems to LED with existing footprints, making it very cost effective,” Graunke noted. “It also allows the user to capture energy savings and eliminate mercury UV bulbs from their process.”   “More and more customers are either ordering new presses or retrofitting existing water-based and UV presses with LED curing systems, primarily because of energy cost savings,” Dedman said. “LED adoption seems to be steadily gaining traction across the print industry, and we fully expect that growth to increase moving forward.”   Hinataya said that UV LED printing has seen more growth. “The reasons for this are speculated to be the rising cost of electricity and the switch from mercury lamps to LED lamps,” added Hinataya.   Blasek reported that hubergroup sees a global trend towards UV LED applications in flexo printing.   “The main drivers are energy cost savings and sustainability,” Blasek said. “We at hubergroup support this and want to collaborate with customers based on long-term concepts. However, LED technology is in sum still more expensive than the traditional UV technology. Consequently, UV drying with mercury vapor lamps is still most common. Within the next years, we expect a further trend towards the LED technology.”   Schröder pointed out that mercury technology is still leading the way in UV sheetfed offset printing. “There have been major leaps in the UV LED technology in recent years but there are still some technical limitations due to the small number of available photoinitiators and the currently still narrow LED absorption spectrum,” Schröder added.   Derrick Hemmings, product manager, EC flexo, screen and LED NA & ECP Canada for Sun Chemical, reported that the LED segment is estimated to be around 15% of the total energy curable graphic arts market.   “We feel that both LED and UV/EB continue to grow at the same rate,” Hemmings said. “RadTech suggests an LED increase from 12% in 2019 to over 20% in 2022. This increase continues to primarily be in digital, commercial offset, screen, and narrow web. Sustainability surrounding energy savings is a key driver of this increase, however, it also can be attributed to increased productivity and throughput.”   Hemmings added that digital, commercial offset, screen, and NWTL (narrow web, tag and label) customers continue to lead the way in UV LED conversion and equipment sales.   “Of primary interest to Sun Chemical are LED for sensitive packaging applications, the need for more compliant, low migration solutions, and heat sensitive substrates for further lightweighting of packaging,” Hemmings said. “These needs, along with the significant energy savings (upwards of 50%) being rationalized by converters, continues to help drive UV LED conversion in graphic arts. It’s worth keeping an eye on LED for commercial print applications, as it presents an excellent value proposition and is gaining traction in the industry. Conversions of conventional sheetfed presses to LED provide an excellent path to higher productivity.” Olsson said that Flint Group has seen a significant uptake in UV LED products since Q3 2022.   “Contributing to this increase is the focus by printers, converters, and brand owners on reducing their greenhouse gas emissions,” Olsson said. “Currently, Asia and the United States have a larger share of LED lamps. In Europe, there is a large number of pending installations of UV LED lamps. We estimate that lamp installations in Europe will double over the next 12 months, where high energy costs and potential electricity shortages are driving this change.”   Köhn said that as in previous years, UV LED is growing faster than traditional UV, in particular in Europe, where high energy costs act as a catalyst for the LED technology.   “Also in markets like India, Southeast Asia and Latin America, we see an ongoing strong momentum towards UV LED,” Köhn said. “UV LED systems continue to become more and more cost-competitive and more and more new products are launched on the market that complete the offering.”