IDE Online Magazine Enero 2017 | Page 46

NOVEDADES Y PRODUCTOS

Domino cuts down on compressed air costs with its Thermal Transfer Overprinting systems

Domino Printing Sciences has firmly established its environmental credentials thanks to the innovative design of its V120i and V230i thermal transfer overprinting (TTO) systems. Unlike most TTO printers on the market, Domino’s V120i and V230i units do not require compressed air to operate, using instead stepper motors to control the printhead pressure and movement that is so critical in delivering a consistent high quality print.

“Compressed air is one of the most expensive services in a production plant and can have a substantial impact on the environment in terms of emissions output,” explains Peter Lister, Product Manager for TTO at Domino. “Over 10% of electricity consumed by the UK industry is used for compressed air, and 40% of these generation costs are typically wasted on inefficient and leaking systems. When reviewing these figures, it becomes clear that there are significant savings to be made by cutting down on compressed air usage where possible.”

There are consequently clear benefits in not using compressed air technology in TTO systems. It eliminates the cost of running and maintaining a compressed air supply to the coding area. In some cases where no factory air supply even exists it can avoid the need to install one at all. Installation, maintenance and repair costs are avoided while the issue of leaks is eliminated. These leaks can cost up to 20-30% of the annual printer consumables usage (Cost of air calculation based on a compressed air supply line feeding 10 printers containing two small 1.6mm leaks, each at an annual cost of £860), which inevitably has a major impact on the operational efficiency.