Testing, Selecting an Environmental Press Wash

Does your pressroom wash meet your needs in the most cost-effective and environmentally sound manner? Since washes are a major cause of pollution in print shops and can cause regulatory compliance problems, choosing the right wash is a serious decision.

Following are some tips, many of which have been supplied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that should be considered when testing for a more environmentally friendly wash.

• Select a wash that performs multiple jobs. Does your blanket wash also work on rollers? Can your wash be used on ink trays, impression cylinders, or plates? Eliminating the use of multiple pressroom washes in favor of one that can perform a range of jobs can result in both cost and inventory benefits. Many environmental washes can do double- or even triple-duty just fine.
• Analyze the impact of any extra drying time. Low-VOC washes, by their very nature, tend to dry more slowly. While this is good for the environment, it does mean that the press will be tied up longer. To speed drying times, go over the blanket with a clean, dry wipe after washing. This is an extra step, but it can result in time savings and has some environmental and health pluses as well.
• Determine whether the wash leaves a residue behind, and if so, whether that residue is detrimental to the printing process. Some environmental washes can leave a residue behind after use. However, many shops have discovered that this residue has little to no effect and is gone within the first few sheets through the press. But, if the residue needs to be removed immediately, a damp wipe should remove it from the blanket’s surface.
• Check the washes odor. Even environmental washes can have a strong odor. While most press operators prefer the smell of the environmental wash to the really strong odors of solvent-based solutions, you may have to try several different brands of wash if odor is a problem.
• Measure the effectiveness of the environmental wash vs. your traditional solvent wash. Verify how well the new environmental wash works compared to a traditional wash when correctly applied. Experiment by leaving the wash on the blanket before working it, wiping the blanket with a damp wipe to remove excess ink before cleaning, and other methods that can extend the effectiveness of the wash’s performance. Consult with your chemical representative on the proper methods of usage.

  Above all, don’t throw in the towel too soon (literally). Take time to experiment and work with a number of environmental substitutes. Your efforts can result in a safer, more efficient, and healthier workplace and a better environment.

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  By Jim Kostohrys. Copyright A.B.Dick Company 2002