Removal of substances such as adhesives in flexo web printing plants

OPTIMUM GROUP™ is a versatile group of printing companies specialising in UV Flexo web printing and digital printing. ASQ is part of the OPTIMUM GROUP™. They had already looked for other alternatives to solvents for cleaning and degreasing materials. However, the effect and odour were not satisfactory. Then there was an introductory meeting with Eco-Point. We asked Wim Wouters, shift leader, about his experiences with Eco-Point. “What we like most is how well it works, the fact that our employees can work safely without disturbing effects such as odour, and that the products are easy to use and very versatile. We indicated which products we wanted to replace with safe and ecological alternatives. Eco-Point performed a free Quick scan for this”.

Result and feedback of tests

“To remove adhesives from rubber rollers, Roleco was initially used. This was already better than the old products. With E.P. Proplex it went much faster and fortunately without damaging the rubber rollers. A good alternative was also found for ethyl acetate to remove ink from metal rollers. The Natusafe really worked VERY well. Fast, very powerful, no symbols, little needed (almost no evaporation), quickly dry by wiping. And food approved! A thick layer of old inks on machines and at the spindle was also removed very quickly. On the degreasing table, ink containers are cleaned with a brush from the degreasing tank. Solvega 300 is now used for this. The product is easy to work with, has no symbols, has an ISEGA label and has a very high flash point. As a floor cleaner for removing rubber marks (from pallet jacks and forklift trucks) with the scrubbing machine, we use Ecotense Plus NF with a very nice result. We can now work without danger. No unpleasant odours, no chapping, no wounds or hands drying out, and no hazard symbols.”

Approach

Contact with the product advisor is pleasant. The tests are handled well and efficiently, says Mr Wouters. “Questions were answered quickly, samples for thorough further testing were delivered very quickly, and all information such as safety and production data sheets were forwarded quickly and correctly.”

What was the deciding factor for you?

Of course, the action of the products was the deciding factor for the purchase, but in the context of BRC, safety (no hazard symbols) and the pleasant and easy use of the products were also decisive. There is also the fact that we now have less hazardous waste and therefore more space in the container. Eco-Point takes the used cans back with a subsequent order. We certainly recommend Eco-Point to other companies and sectors.