Cumulus ensures the right humidity: ‘Paper should not be too dry or too humid’

Cumulus has been working with major players in the graphics sector for many years and, according to sales manager Melten Altena, Cumulus knows how to maintain this position in the Netherlands, and even beyond. 'We have years of experience with humidification and water treatment in the graphics sector. As a result, we are able to provide every customer with the customised solutions they require. We know the risks and consequences for our customers' printing and printing process, making us a committed partner in optimising their printing and printing process.' Sustainability also plays an important in this nowadays. 'Sustainability already starts with the design of our installations. These are designed for a long lifespan and with minimal maintenance. Moreover, with our installations we help our customers reduce their energy consumption and minimise losses in their production processes.' A great example of this is the installation of Senefelder Misset in 2021. 'An example of a particularly pleasant cooperation where mutual trust was at the basis,' says Altena.

Long trajectories

Back in 2017, Senefelder Misset had the desire to replace the central steam installation. Since the installation also had to supply steam for humidifying the production halls, a sustainable and energy-efficient solution to maintain the humidity level was important. In their search, they also decided to start a conversation with Cumulus, on which a whole process then started. In 2021, they decided to invest in the Cumulus installation. That autumn, preparations for installation started and just before the start of the most important humidification period of the year, winter, Cumulus was able to deliver the installation. It has now been running for a year to the satisfaction of Senefelder Misset.

Fragile paper

Printing Company Senefelder is based in Doetinchem and mainly delivers high-quality magazines, catalogues and brochures in a 400-500 kilometre radius around Doetinchem.Within the Netherlands, their size and the quantity of magazines they print make them unique. They are also currently the only printing company in the Netherlands that can wrap magazines in paper. Thomas Spekschoor, technical director, was closely involved in the choice of the new steam plant. 'Because of our raw materials, humidification is essential,' begins Spekschoor. 'The right humidification level is very important for our production process, so the choice for another installation was quite a trajectory. After all, paper is something that absorbs moisture but can also dry out. If the humidity is too high, the paper starts sticking together, which you don't want. If the air is too dry, dish formation occurs, which means you can't use that paper anymore.' Therefore, to keep the production process running flawlessly, constant humidity is needed throughout the company. 'That means a relative humidity between 50 and 60 percent.

The choice for Cumulus was one of years. Naturally, Senefeld Misset sat down with several parties, but Cumulus' proposal came out on top. Spekschoor: 'One of our sister companies, Printforce, also has installations from Cumulus. Printforce was very enthusiastic about the system: maintenance-friendly, good construction, a clear story, and no fuss. That really appealed to us.'

It is in the past

Meanwhile, Spekschoor can also confirm himself that the installation is working satisfactorily and that the whole process went smoothly, including installation and service. 'The engineers knew exactly how to do everything and where to go for any help. Sometimes, for instance, things were designed on the drawing board that turned out not to work in practice. They then came up with solutions themselves. That worked very pleasantly.'

But the most important thing, of course, is the installation itself. Thus, past problems and bottlenecks are finally a thing of the past. Spekschoor: 'Too humid air is worse than too dry air. But with the deployment of humidification, we no longer suffer from both. We notice that the paper no longer sticks together. If the air is too dry, the paper would bulge, preventing it from passing through the machine. Thanks to air humidification we no longer have this problem either.'

Energy-efficient

When it comes to sustainability, Senefelder Misset wants to find the right balance between the activities within the company and its impact on the environment, with the aim of permanently looking to reduce this impact. 'Cumulus provided us with a technical solution for optimal humidification of the various spaces within our company. This allows us to achieve ideal spatial conditions in an efficient and energy-efficient way. Moreover, the new installation is much more energy-efficient than the old system, allowing us as a company to significantly reduce our gas consumption. This not only results in a financial benefit, but also in the reduction of our CO2 emissions.'

This article is a translated version and was produced in collaboration with PrintMatters and Senefelder Misset.