Goss International has launched a new web offset dryer that provides considerable cost savings and environmental benefits. The Ecoset dryer is based on industry-leading Goss Ecocool technology, with design enhancements that can reduce energy consumption and emissions by 50 percent or more.

Key to this advancement is the elimination of the cooling section within the dryer, which traditionally pre-cools the web prior to the chill rolls to reduce solvent condensation. Due to the unique cooling capability of Goss International’s small-diameter Ecocool chill rollers, the web can move directly from drying to chilling without condensation occurring. With no cooling section, the overall intake of cold air into the dryer is reduced, with a subsequent reduction in gas consumption and emission.

According to Bas Klaver, product manager at the Goss International facility in Boxmeer, Netherlands where Goss dryers are designed and manufactured, “The small-diameter chill rollers are proven in Ecocool dryers to eliminate solvent condensation regardless of print speed, paper quality or ink coverage. This has allowed the Ecoset design team to remove the cooling section, thereby minimizing the intake of cold air.”

In addition to providing ecological benefits, the Ecoset dryer has a smaller footprint and also provides increased productivity over conventional dryers with separate chill sections. “With a conventional chill stand, condensation is a well-known problem, which means that for certain job types printers need to reduce press speed by up to 20 percent in order to avoid damage to the web. This represents a significant loss in productivity or a reduction in quality,” continues Klaver.

“The Ecoset dryer can maintain quality at full press speed. In addition to the advanced chill section, it utilizes a silicon applicator, just before the first chill roller, to avoid ink picking from the smaller diameter rollers. With modified silicone applicators, it is also possible to remoisten the web in order to compensate for shrinkage of the web during drying.”

Currently available for all web widths between 1460 mm and 2860 mm, the Goss Ecoset dryer employs state-of-the-art technologies, such as low-maintenance direct drive motors and Simotion controls, web break detection and CLC cameras to ensure proven Ecocool dryer performance with an optimized ecological proposition and reduced running costs.

With well over 300 installations worldwide, industry acceptance of Goss Ecocool technology is long established. Groundbreaking integration of essential Ecocool components such as the chill section and web remoistening has led to significant improvements in print quality, web dynamics, cost savings and environmental impact. The Ecoset innovations now extend this appeal.

“We estimate that an Ecoset dryer could reduce energy costs by up to €80,000 ($100,000) per year versus an Ecocool dryer, based on current average energy rates,” according to Klaver. “The potential reduction in carbon dioxide emissions due to lower gas consumption is estimated at 364 tonnes per year for a 64-page press and 283 tonnes per year for a 24-page press,” he adds.

Existing Ecocool installations can be upgraded to the new Ecoset concept, so that Ecocool customers can also benefit from this innovation and achieve a significant reduction in their costs of operation.

Goss Ecoset dryers can deliver further energy-saving benefits through the Ecobox option. This technology provides the opportunity to use thermal energy from dryer exhaust to heat the building and to heat water for various other applications within the facility.