October 2006:
Got Moisture?

With the amount of paper, people and projects that fly around printing and post press companies every day, it’s no surprise that we often overlook some basic elements of the production success. You may not give much thought to the air in and out of your plant, but humidity and moisture can affect several common bindery operations:

Moisture can either help or hinder many post press processes, including gluing, binding and folding.

Gluing
The combination of slow-curing glues and a hot, humid summer day can have disastrous results, such as a skid of finished sheets “bricking” together. While operating in a humidity-controlled environment can help alleviate most major problems, the paper itself should be allowed to dry as well. For some applications, this may push back the production schedule as the stock is allowed to acclimate to a dryer environment.

For remoist glue applications, the potential for early glue activation is greatest once the projects leave the bindery. A long truck ride in humid weather can be enough to turn skids of envelopes into bricks of sticky paper. Shrink wrapping and skid wrapping may help, but common sense should dictate how these projects are handled if moisture is a concern.

Adhesive Binding
Sufficient drying times for adhesive-bound books can vary greatly based on the type of adhesive and relative humidity of the environment. While hot melt (PVA) adhesives cure by shedding moisture, PUR adhesives work just the opposite - they draw moisture to cure. If possible, the moisture level of the binding environment should be optimized for the type of adhesive to ensure the fastest curing times.

Folding
A lack of moisture can adversely affect the folding process. Overly dry sheets can result in cracked inks and coatings along the fold. Again, conditioning the paper to the production environment prior to folding will help alleviate most moisture issues

The Riverside Advantage
At The Riverside Group, we recognize that little things can make a big difference when it comes to project success. Within our facility you’ll find a complete range of adhesive binding, mechanical binding, folding, gluing, die cutting, foil stamping, embossing and many other services. Give us a call today to experience the Riverside Advantage for yourself.