Jan 13, 2015 5:00:54 AM / by Admin

Dry Ice blast cleaning is used to clean ink from printing rress rollers

Dry Ice blast cleaning is used to clean ink from printing press rollers

In the packaging and printing industries large amounts of tough to remove dirt, grime, and residue is created from the manufacturing process. This residue typically needs harsh solvents and chemicals to remove, and still needs large amounts of elbow grease to clean. Even after the use of these solvents and physical effort, the surfaces still retain some residue and get dirty quickly afterwards. Some inks and materials aren’t soluble at all once they are dry, and the only way to remove them is through hand scraping.

OSHA warns about the dangers of cleaning printing rollers or packaging plant machinery and how performing this cleaning by hand exposes workers to two serious hazards.

Dry Ice Cleaning Rollers after dry ice cleaning

Before and After of printing press rollers cleaned using dry ice blasting

The first is the exposure to the cleaning solvents and chemicals, which often produce dangerous fumes or cause severe skin damage. The second issue is that to clean the rollers and other parts the machinery the system Lockout/Tagout is bypassed and the machinery is still operating. This creates the potential for lacerations or amputations if a finger or piece of clothing gets caught by the rollers or machinery.

Printing rollers cleaned with dry ice blasting

Filthy printing rollers are cleaned like new using dry ice blasting

One option for cleaning that removes all of these hazards while also speeding up the process and preventing damage to the equipment is Dry Ice blast cleaning. Cleaning with dry ice is done by using a machine that shoots tiny fragments of dry ice at the dirty surface, and the subzero pellets of dry ice expand on contact with the residue, causing it to lift away from the surface underneath.

 

red print roller before and after dry ice cleaning

An ink covered printing press roller partially cleaned using dry ice blasting

Since it uses dry ice, which is just solidified carbon dioxide, there are no harsh solvents or chemicals, and very little residue to clean up. Dry Ice blast cleaning can also safely be used while the machinery and printing presses are still in operation since fingers and rags are not used near moving parts.

Printing presses and packaging molds are often delicate and easily damaged or malformed, and standard cleaning methods can lead to this. Sandblasting, chemicals, and hand scraping can damage the molds or print rollers, but since dry ice blasting does not use abrasives or solvents it does not damage the surface.

 

Learn more about dry ice blasting HERE, or watch the video below to see dry ice being used to clean printing presses:

 

Hughes Environmental can provide the safe, efficient cleaning that Dry Ice blasting provides by having trained technicians using state of the art dry ice blasting equipment.

Contact a representative to learn more or to set up a cleaning for your printing or packaging facility.

Tags: Articles, Dry Ice Cleaning

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