The adage "Green doesn’t always mean clean" holds a lot of truth, especially in the realm of anilox cleaning systems. Over the years, we've witnessed several systems enter the market with grand claims of eco-friendliness, only to fade away due to their inability to consistently deliver clean rolls. From Powder Blasting to Bead Blasting and more recently, Flexomaid, many have touted their green credentials but failed to live up to expectations. Enter Laser cleaning, the latest innovation claiming zero waste.
But let's delve deeper into the environmental claims and health and safety aspects of each method. The thing to remember is that no method is completely waste-free.
Flexowash. A method established since the 1980s, employs a heated solution with a 50% concentration of high pH chemistry to eliminate contamination. Manufacturers assert the environmental friendliness of these chemistries, a claim echoed widely on their website. However, this assertion is a very dubious claim. While the chemistry may prove environmentally friendly when fresh and uncontaminated, its environmental credentials diminish rapidly upon the introduction of UV, solvent-based, or certain water-based inks. Regrettably, this fact is without doubt an attempt to mislead, potentially leading print houses to dispose of waste illegally, risking prosecution by environmental authorities.
Laser cleaning employs a broad beam laser to vaporise ink from cells, purportedly without producing waste. However, this claim is fundamentally flawed. Vaporisation of any organic or inorganic matter generates smoke containing carcinogenic nanoparticles. Academic literature abounds with stark warnings about the hazards of laser cleaning, leaving no room for plausible denial.
Manufacturers assert that Hepa-Filters mitigate risks, but this assertion doesn't hold water. Blocked filters and simply opening the system door poses significant threats to operator safety. Comparisons to aircraft cabin filtration during the COVID-19 pandemic, show clearly that100% smoke filtration requires highly specialised and expensive equipment, which these systems do not possess. People still caught Covid 19 on planes, even with hepa-filters.
In healthcare, stringent measures are taken to protect surgeons against smoke during operations, with specialised, expensive filtration systems deployed. Sadly, such concerns are not mirrored in the print industry and shockingly, we’re seeing ‘press side’ systems being used without any filtration at all.
Disturbingly, reports have emerged of operators contracting cancer from laser cleaning and while these incidents occurred outside Western Europe and the US, similar occurrences in these regions could easily trigger class action lawsuits.
In essence, the purported waste-free nature of laser cleaning masks significant health risks for operators and serious questions should be asked regarding the continued use of this method.
Alphasonics. Utilising Advanced Ultrasonics to safely draw out contamination from the cells, offers a compelling alternative. With chemistries used at lower concentrations (only 20% of a Flexowash system), its incredibly even ultrasonic action minimises reliance on chemicals, thus significantly reducing waste. Disposal costs are negligible, being as low as 20ltrs every 6 weeks, with contaminated tank fluid usually disposed of alongside ink waste.
In a 2020 independent trials by a leading press manufacturer, concluded Alphasonics as the most effective anilox cleaning system, followed by Laser and then Flexowash. While environmental claims are essential in today’s world, cleaning efficacy and roll safety are the most important aspects. When investing in an anilox cleaning system, prioritising both cleanliness and safety is a must, providing that the environmental considerations are given cognizance.
In conclusion, being green doesn’t necessarily mean clean. It's imperative to choose a system that not only minimises environmental footprint but also delivers superior cleaning results. At Alphasonics UCS, we're committed to both sustainability and efficacy, ensuring your aniloxes are rendered as clean as humanly possible, with due diligence to the environmental footprint.
