Printing category

Printing means transferring text or images, usually using ink, onto a printing substrate, in printing machines. The printing substrate is usually paper.

The printing process is performed in several stages, encompassing preparation activities, pressing i.e. printing, and post-pressing processes, which include binding of the printed materials and finishing processes. The use of VOCs (solvents) is necessary in the printing process, for the cleaning the printing press, as well as in the laminating and varnishing processes.

Heatset web offset printing 

Heatset web offset printing is a process using an image carrier in the same plane with the remaining area, where the material to be printed is continuously fed to the machine from a reel.  The non-printing area is treated in such a manner so as to attract water and reject ink.  The printing area is treated in such a manner so as to receive and transmit ink to the surface to be printed. Evaporation takes place in an oven where hot air is used to heat the printed material.

Solvent consumption threshold

If the total annual solvent consumption of a printing installation using heatset web offset printing is equal to or greater than 15 t/year, the installation is subject to the requirements of the VOC Regulation and classified as a VOC operator.

Based on the total annual solvent consumption, VOC operators are classified as small or medium installations; the prescribed emission limit values for these installations depend on this classification and are listed in Annex 5 of the VOC Regulation.

Rotogravure 

Publication rotogravure shall mean a rotogravure printing activity used for printing paper for magazines, brochures, catalogues or similar products, using toluene-based inks.

Rotogravure is a printing process using a cylindrical image carrier, in which the image carrier is below the non-printing area, using liquid inks which dry through evaporation. The recesses are filled with ink and the surplus is removed from the non-printing area before the surface to be printed comes into contact with the cylinder and lifts the ink from the recesses.

Solvent consumption threshold

If the total annual solvent consumption of a printing installation using rotogravure is greater than 25 t/year, the installation is subject to the requirements of the VOC Regulation and classified as a VOC operator.

In line to the Regulation, all VOC installations in the rotogravure category are classified as medium installations and are subject to the same emission limit values prescribed in Annex 5 of the VOC Regulation.

Other roto printing

Flexography is a printing process using an image carrier of rubber or elastic photopolymers on which the printing areas are above the non-printing areas, using liquid inks which dry through evaporation.

Rotary screen printing is a printing process in which the ink is passed onto the surface to be printed by forcing it through a porous image carrier, in which the printing area is open, and non-printing area is sealed off, using liquid inks which dry through evaporation, and the printing material is continually fed into the machine from a reel.

Laminating associated with a printing process shall mean the adhering together of two or more flexible materials to produce laminates.

Varnishing is a process by which a varnish or an adhesive coating is applied to a flexible material for the purpose of later sealing the packaging material.

Solvent consumption threshold 

If the total annual solvent consumption of a printing installation using any of the aforementioned roto printing processes (other than printing on cardboard or textile) is equal to or greater than 15 t/year, the installation is subject to the requirements of the VOC Regulation and classified as a VOC operator. 

Based on the total annual solvent consumption, VOC operators are classified as small or medium installations; the prescribed emission limit values for these installations depend on this classification and are listed in Annex 5 of the VOC Regulation.

If the total annual solvent consumption of a printing installation using the roto printing process to print on cardboard and textile is greater than 30 t/year, the installation is subject to the requirements of the VOC Regulation and classified as a VOC operator.

In case of the category of roto printing on cardboard and textile, all VOC operators are classified as medium installations and are subject to the same emission limit values prescribed in Annex 5 of the VOC Regulation.