Troubleshooting
Technical Support
We understand that technical issues can be frustrating. Please use the guide below to identify common faults and solutions.
Need to get in touch?
Please feel free to contact us about any troubleshooting issues. For best results when requesting technical support, please keep your documentation, including pallet notes, handy.
Common Symptoms:
Fine, fibrous powder on edges, small imperfections spreading over the image, or irregular patterns of particles (white on top, black underneath).
| Potential Causes | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Loose Fibres / Dust | Wash rubber blankets more frequently. |
| Dirty Machine / System | Clean printing machine and gripping system. |
| Ink Issues | Reduce ink tack; change colour sequence. |
| Coating Outbreaks | Check printed stack; aspirate cut edges. |
Common Symptoms:
Bubbling on the cartonboard surface, often occurring in the inking system.
| Potential Causes | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Check the Temperature | If the cartonboard or the printing room is too cold (below 18°C), this can cause temporary bubbling. Warm up the machine or store cartonboard in the recommended 18–22°C range. |
| Ink Tack | If ink is too sticky, it splits too quickly at the perforating angle. Add a tack reducer (5-10% oil/thinner) or add transparent white. |
| Rubber Blankets | Old or sticky blankets can exacerbate the problem. Swap for new, quick-release blankets. |
Common Symptoms:
Irregular intensity of colour, appearing speckled.
| Potential Causes | Recommended Solution |
|---|---|
| Is it Back-Trap-Mottling? | Test: Remove subsequent printing units and check if the image still appears speckled. If the speckling disappears, it is Back-Trap-Mottling. |
| Fixes: Move critical colours to the end of the sequence; replace quick-setting inks with anti-mottling inks; change to different rubber blankets. | |
| Is it Hydrophobic-Mottling? | Test: If the speckling remains after shutting down previous units, it is likely Hydrophobic-Mottling. |
| Coating Outbreaks | Fixes: Reduce fountain solution to the “scumming limit”; move plates with high fountain requirements to the end of the unit sequence. |
To avoid most printing errors, ensure the following environment:
Temperature: 22-23°C
Relative Humidity: 50-52%
Always keep packaging film on the pallets until just before printing to allow for proper acclimatisation.
Still Having Trouble?
If these solutions do not resolve your issue, please use the following guide to prepare documentation for our team.