Drying

Approx. 70% of the wet ink is paint thinner. This thinner has to be extracted after printing. Given the relatively thin ink film, pad prints dry spontaneously on surface. However, printing several ink layers on top of each other may pose a problem. Generally, the thinner of the last ink layer penetrates into the ink layers below and softens them. Thinners in multi-layer inks do not dry easily and drying is markedly slower compared to single layer prints. As a result you need to ensure that multi-layer prints are particularly well dried. Despite these problems, the thinness of the layers allows the print of several layers wet on wet. As the drying method affects the final adhesiveness of the inks, it is important to select the one most suitable for each application. The process of drying requires air, warm air, infrared or near-infrared light. UV light is needed for UV inks. We offer drying devices integrated into our machines as well as individual solutions tailored to your needs.

Air diffuser system
In multiple layer prints, air diffusers are used to help the individual ink layers dry during the printing process. This makes the ink layers stickier and subsequent layers adhere better. Moreover, blowing air on the pad can improve actual print behaviour. Air diffuser systems operate with compressed air which can be regulated over valves.
Warm air
Hot air guns are used for warm/hot air drying after printing. You can adjust the temperature through the potentiometer located on the machine. Depending on the application, the warm air can be regulated as needed.
Infrared light
Infrared lights transfer large amounts of energy in relatively short time. Infrared lights are available in different spectrums. Short-wave infrared radiation penetrates deeply into the material, while medium-waved radiation becomes more absorbed in surfaces and thin layers.
NIR-light
NIR radiation has an infrared rande of 800 to 1200 nm. Here the polymers behave transparent. This means the actual heat dissipation is not the crucial factor for defining energy transfer. Moreover it is the radiation which penetrates deeply into the layer causing drying. As a result the entire colour film is heated and dries simultaneously improving colour adhesion significantly.
UV-light
UV inks dry only with the help of ultraviolet light. This method has become increasingly popular. Meanwhile, models are available which can be built into the machines. Continuous dryers comprise conveyor belt and UV head. The UV light can be set as needed. For safety reasons, UV light must always remain covered.

Customer-specific dryers

In addition to our integrated pre-treatment units, we also offer individual customer-tailored applications.

Dryers are available in synchronised or continuously running units. The continuously running units are equipped with conveyor belts. At the end of the process, the parts drop into a container or end up in a buffer area. Synchronised units are connected with the pad printing machine. As soon as the pad printer moves one step, the dryer moves along. This is particularly suited if one user operates both pad printing machine and dryer.

Synchronised dryer with warm air
Synchronised dryer with warm air
Dryer with conveyor belt and infrared light
Dryer with conveyor belt and infrared light