the solution

Enviro Image Solutions (EIS) has developed a patent pending blanket recycling program that extends the lifespan of UV printing blankets by as much as four times. It also cuts annual blanket costs by up to 70%.

Prompted by the huge explosion of energy curable inks, this innovative process rejuvenates blankets that are difficult to re-use due to latent images.

Here is how it works:

• Once a printer determines a UV blanket is no longer usable for high quality projects that require large screens or solids, the blanket is sent to EIS.
• EIS treats the blanket with various proprietary EIS processes that restore it to full quality.
• The blanket is then returned to the printer and re-installed on the press, its performance as good as new.

The same blanket can be rejuvenated many times – the average is four treatments – as long as the top layer of a blanket is uncut. Once the blanket surface can no longer be rejuvenated, its components are recycled or used in other applications.

Metropolitan Fine Printers, one of the participating printers, has since produced many award-winning projects in 10 micron Staccato using rejuvenated blankets. Their annual blanket replacement costs have reduced up to 70%.

EIS is currently the only company in the world able to offer this innovative program. More than three years in development and first introduced in 2004, the company worked closely with leading printers to refine the process, which has been tested repeatedly on multiple presses. Metropolitan Fine Printers, one of the participating printers, has since produced many award-winning projects in 10 micron Staccato using rejuvenated blankets and also cut its annual blanket costs up to 70%.