The unavoidable problem of coating technology (2)

3. Attitudes of printing houses and publishers affect film development

Overall, it is only a matter of time before the solvent-based lamination process is completely phased out. Through interviews, we have also proved this trend. It is foreseeable that the solvent-based film has come to the stage of exiting the stage of history. However, can we use this to completely negate film technology? The author believes that under the present circumstances, the idea of ​​completely eliminating the coating technology is unrealistic, and the following two aspects deserve our attention.

(1) It is difficult for printers to make profits

For most printing companies, laminating is a big profit point in the post-press processing industry, especially since the printing industry has entered the era of meager profits. For the laminating process, the printing factory is difficult to give up.

The first-line operator of the film is the first victim of harmful gases. What we can comfort is that the current printing plants (even some small-scale printing plants) can generally recognize the dangers of the lamination process and are Try to reduce possible pollution to the minimum, such as the use of more environmentally friendly processes and materials, improve the plant's ventilation facilities, etc., They welcome environmentally friendly products, such as water-based film, pre-coated film.

(2) Press lamination has become a habit

The laminating process is highly praised by publishers. The US editors often choose the laminating film when choosing the decoration method for the surface of the books. Even when coating with local UV, the laminating film must be coated and then glazing. It can be said that the publishing house plays a decisive role in whether the film is covered or not, because according to the general book publishing process, the publishing house must first formulate a plan, and the printing house or the binding factory is only in the execution of the publishing house. Some science and education publishers will cover almost all books. On the issue of environmental protection, it is clear that there is no printing house on the publishing company side to behave positively.

While people's living standards have improved, the requirements for the print quality and surface decoration of paper publications have also been greatly improved. In order to pursue the sales of book products, publishers need to make a big fuss on the cover of books and magazines.
After the paper publication is processed by laminating, the graphic and text can be protected and the visual effect is better, especially the matt film gives a soft, high-grade and comfortable feeling.

In addition, the film can also increase the color concentration and brightness, improve the color contrast, but also waterproof, not sticky. At the same time, the physical properties such as paper tension, smoothness, anti-aging, tear resistance, and anti-jamming are generally improved, which reduces the deformation and damage caused by the influence of moisture on the paper, and improves the rigidity and forming stability of the book. Greatly increased the added value of prints. Moreover, the investment in filming costs is much lower than the added value of products and the promotion rate of goods. For publishers, since there are so many benefits for the film, why not?

Therefore, the publishing unit and the printing factory should strengthen communication. The printing factory should introduce the advantages and disadvantages of the film coating process to the publishing unit. The publishing unit can take into account the advantages and disadvantages of various processes and take a society Responsibility to do design.

Henan impression

At present, some provinces and cities in China have issued relevant regulations prohibiting students from laying textbooks. Henan Province is a typical example. I was surprised when I heard about it. In general, students' textbooks are the most in need of lamination, especially the textbooks of primary school students. The children are active and active, and the textbooks are also worn out. Therefore, the functional requirements of folding, abrasion, and waterproofing of books are also compared. high. Moreover, at the recent NPC session, many delegates proposed to realize the reuse of students' textbooks. If this goal is to be achieved, it should be necessary to cover textbooks.

But why is it forbidden for student textbooks? On the one hand, we have also repeatedly emphasized that the printed film is subject to the idea of ​​environmental protection and sustainable development. Even if it solves the problem of pollution in the production process, at present, under our country's technological level, recycling after discarding can not achieve. On the other hand, film lamination increases the cost of textbooks. This cost is not only the cost of laminating the finished books, but also the cost of paper wool and paper powder that are discarded during processing. Since this part of the scrap cannot be recycled, the cost can only be reduced. Fully added to the pricing of each book that is covered, this is also a burden for the users of the book.

It is understood that the film coating factory under the Henan Press and Publication Bureau was revoked after the ban was issued. Since textbooks account for the vast majority of laminated products, many of the larger printing factories in Henan Province (such as Henan Xinhua Printing Factory and No.2 Xinhua Printing Factory) have long since cancelled the post-printing form of the film. Encountered need to cover the product, they took other small plants to film. Many of these large-scale printing companies had already eliminated solvent-based coatings and water-based coatings before the removal of the coating process, and used more advanced pre-film coating. After the ban was issued, they gave up the film. According to the relevant personages of a printing plant, the printed matter of the film-covered publications printed by the factory now accounts for 20% to 30% of all the printed products. It should be known that this number should reach 70% or more.

It can be seen that the government’s enforcement measures have caused the film to lose a large market in some areas. However, from a nationwide perspective, it is necessary for us to re-consider such a “love and hate” process. In fact, as part of the printing technology, the film coating technology is also developing with the continuous advancement of various materials, equipments, and processes, just like the progress of solvent-based coating to water-based coating, that is, coating-type coating technology to pre With the advancement of coating technology, the continuous advancement of various thin film materials and various adhesive materials, this trend is also irreversible, and this is also the hope for the reform of the film coating technology.

(to be continued)