Nip Control AB, Sweden

Nip Control ABs' goal is to make printing companies even more efficient and profitable through improved and assured nip control™.

The company aims to be the ultimate nip specialist within the printing industry.

The first Nip Control product brought to the market is the Roller Nip Indicator, which makes it possible for offset printers to both lower their costs and improve their print quality.

Nip Control is part of a group of companies with focus on sensor technologies. Because of this, Nip Control has access to world-class expertise on both a theoretical and practical level.

Nip Control AB has been very successful in Sweden and internationally, with sales in 21 countries on all continents.

Products and Services

Roller Nip Indicator

For additional information please visit our Client's section, contact Novasys or visit Nip Control ABs' website at www.nipcontrol.com

Roller Nip Indicator



Click picture for close up view

The roller nip is critical for offset printing since it both transports and mechanically processes the ink and fountain solution. The technology is unique in that the process components, ink and water, are mixed under pressure during printing, creating a new print emulsion.

Older manual methods, such as nip width reading with inked stripe, measure the roller nip by measuring nip width, when the goal is to understand nip pressure.

When adjusting the roller nip, the most common mistake is applying too much pressure. This occurs often when the roller is old and the rubber is hard. To achieve the desired nip width, pressure is increased to give the correct measurement in millimeters or mil (1/000 inch). However, this results in an incorrect nip pressure level.

The Nip Control digital measuring system based on detecting a nip width related to a pre-determined pressure level.

There are two methods for measurement:

  • Measurement with static rollers: The Nip Control Roller Nip Indicator sensor is placed between the static rollers. A reading in millimeters (mm) or mil is continuously displayed on the easy-view display. If necessary, the nip is adjusted until the correct value has been achieved. Using this method, the gradual viscoelastic changes of the rubber (how it hardens) are detected. However, this method does not pick-up the dynamic properties of the rubber roller, e.g. how it changes while in motion.
  • Measurement with rollers in slow-motion (semi-dynamic): This is the most authentic technique for analyzing a roller nip since it both detects the aging of the rubber, as well as its dynamic properties (how it moves). As a result it prevents deviation in roller nip settings which could destabilize the printing process.

The use of Nip Control's Roller Nip Indicator can increase machine up-time through reliable press performance, as well improving overall company performance. There are many areas where the Roller Nip Indicator can assist you to improve your printing process. These include:

  • The Roller Nip Indicator enables quicker measurements and adjustments to be made during setup, maintenance and troubleshooting.
  • Digital measuring facilitates quality-assured preventive maintenance, which also minimizes the need for later interventions.
  • During troubleshooting, the roller nips can quickly, easily and surely be eliminated as the cause of the problem, and focus can be directed towards process variables such as ink and fountain solution.
  • The Roller Nip Indicator facilitates preventive maintenance. Historical, statistical data accumulation on each roller set can be collected that supports the printer and quality assurance programs.
  • Preventive maintenance results in less emergency situations. Scheduled production runs can be carried out as planned, reducing the risk of late customer
    deliveries.
  • The ink properties are closely correlated to the temperature of the rollers. If the nip pressure is too high, the temperature of the rollers will increase, lowering the ink viscosity, resulting in larger dots. The ink will absorb more water and can become destabilized. It becomes difficult to print the colours evenly and with stable dots. By controlling the pressure, temperature is also controlled.

Novasys has a Roller Nip Indicator unit that we can use to demonstrate that benefits that you can achieve on your presses. Contact us to arrange a demonstration at your plant.

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For additional information please visit our Client's section, contact Novasys or visit HunterLab's website at www.hunterlab.com