At Interprint we operate in the decorative Gravure market segment. Our product range is flooring, counter tops, interior/exterior paneling, cabinets and other like applications. We are a 100% water based ink printer with full coverage continuous tone-on-tone designs printing on various saturating grade base papers and a variety of film substrates for wide web printing (ranging in width from 4’- 8’).

In past years, prior to incorporating an auto viscosity process control system we had a pressroom full of experienced printers who lived and died by the viscosity value they measured with a #4 Frikmar viscosity cup. Due to the skill level of our print-staff at this time it was a hard sell to get them to buy into having an auto viscosity system control the quality of their ink. It is worth mentioning the size of our ink delivery vats. These are 750- 1000 Liter in ground vats (large quantity of ink).

As the years past and skilled printers left or were promoted off of the press, the skill level of new printers diminished also the auto viscosity control systems available in the market place advanced.

In 2013-14 we purchased our first auto viscosity control system and immediately saw a positive impact on color stability. As we progressed and invested in more of these systems for our other presses we began to run into some inconsistencies and performance issues. It reached the point where the operators got burnt too many times by the system incorrectly dosing and washing out the color. Over time, the operators lost confidence in the performance of these systems and basically stopped using them. (You can image how frustrating this is to have an investment of this size sit idle).

In 2017 we had an opportunity to test a demo unit of the Rheonics RPS InkSight on one of our print stations. The production order was for 44 rolls of 2.1 meter wide PVC (3000 meters per roll of film).  The InkSight sensor was positioned in our last print unit which is the most critical for design aesthetics, color and due to the very light tonal scale prone to print issues if the ink is not controlled, monitored and maintained. The RPS InkSight sensor held the viscosity over the duration of the entire order within 0.5 cP. The other print stations that were not being controlled the operator had to chase the color and adjust the ink thorough out the run while the print unit the RPS controller was in ran flawlessly.  We were fortunate enough to be able to hold onto the sensor for several months to allow us the ability to run the gamut of our testing across our different product/ink segments. Time and time again the result were outstanding!

 

Set it and forget it operation– The operators have full confidence in this system, we have had several occasions where we did not have a press crew to run the press at night so instead of shutting the press down and washing up we opted to leave the viscosity control system on with the cylinders in the press spinning and the ink circulating through the system. We came in the next morning and we were able to start right back up.

– Todd Luman, Laser Engraving Manager, Interprint, Inc.

In 2018 we were investing in a new press build and it was a no brainer that the new press was to be equipped with the Rheonics RPS inkSight viscosity control. Since this time, we have had the opportunity to gain more user experience with the system and can report the operators are fully vested in the InkSight. We have found several key process advantages to using this system over our other viscosity control system.

Advantageous for the RPS sensor

• Ease of use
• Do not need to calibrate for every use as did our other system require.
• Temperature compensation for predictive logic precise dosing.
• Set it and forget it operation– The operators have full confidence in this system, we have had several occasions where we did not have a press crew to run the press at night so instead of shutting the press down and washing up we opted to leave the viscosity control system on with the cylinders in the press spinning and the ink circulating through the system. We came in the next morning and we were able to start right back up.
• Another key feature is the reporting and event tracking, this is key for us to monitor and see how the system performed over the run.

Lastly with any new product we purchase a big part of the investment decision and future product purchases has to do with the type of technical support provided by the manufacturer.  The technical support offered by Rheonics software engineer Maybemar has been outstanding, easily accessible, responsive and extremely competent.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend considering the Rheonics RPS InkSight for a Technical innovation award. In my professional opinion, there is not another viscosity control system on the market place today that can match the results we have experienced to date with the Rheonics RPS sensor. It is a new technology that separates itself from the others.  In stating this, I am not saying the other viscosity controllers in the market place are bad by any means, they do work and work well however I have not had the same level of performance as displayed by the Rheonics RPS controller due to their technology product advancements.

– Todd Luman, Laser Engraving Manager, Interprint, Inc. 

All Rheonics products are designed to withstand harshest process environments, high temperature, high level of shock, vibrations, abrasives & chemicals.