Ideas On Options Of Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Lana Bray


As the technology continues to advance, so does the manufacturing industry. There have been many changes in digital printing of fabrics in recent times. The main objective has been to adopt more environmental friendly measures and to reduce the cost of production w without compromising on the quality of the output. Adopting digital printing that is eco friendly often means you have to make huge changes which affect design, grading, cutting and even pattern making on fabrics.

One of the strategies which can be used to achieve sustainability is the use of cleaner raw materials particularly the consumables. The lacquer used for the screens has traditionally contained a lot of chromium and the trend has been to reduce the amount of this element. Consequently, environmental pollution has been markedly reduced. The metal used to make holes in the screens is usually made of nickel so as to minimize the wear and tear processes common with other metals.

Installing an efficient wastewater system is another way of conserving environmental resources. Using such a system, water produced from the system will be recycled and reused for other purposes and as a result will help save on production costs. Some of the uses where this water will be useful include the washing of pumps and printer blankets.

The other aspects of the production process should also be made to be efficient as well. The machines used can be designed in a way which will help conserve resources such as ink, energy and water. This can be done both for the digital and the conventional printers. Heat generated from processes such as radial extraction can be redirected to be reused in the drying chamber which often requires high supplies of energy. When this is done close to 25% of energy is saved.

Many of the available printing techniques require the media to be pre-treated before the impressions are created. Urea is the common choice for most artists for this exercise. One of the disadvantages of urea is the fact that there is production of high levels of carbon dioxide during the streaming process. The other disadvantage is that water is required to wash off residual urea. Adoption of a special types of foam by some printers has helped reduced the pollution and the need for water.

Another option which can be considered is what is referred to as digital engraving. In this method, direct laser is used to create the impressions on the media. It has a major advantage in that the turnaround time is way shorter than what is seen with other methods. In addition, it requires less water and energy.

Apart from engraving, the other environmental-friendly option is the use of pigments in printing. This is associated with numerous advantages. For instance, the pigments can be used for any type of medium. It does not require pre-treated medium to work and uses less energy, water and other chemicals.

For successful implementation of digital printing that is eco friendly, legal requirements must be put into perspective. The issues surrounding environmental degradation and conservation have great legal implications which you need to be aware of even as you make changes. The rules vary from one region to another and from one country to another.




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