Toasty Warm and Dry

Radiant energy and added air circulation are making infrared drying systems efficient options for many converters.

by Joy English

Today's forecast: sunny and breezy, with highs in the 80s. With weather like this, perfecting a tan is quick and easy. But with this same type of radiant energy, packaged in a different form, a tan is not all that can be accomplished quickly. For the package printing industry, infrared (IR) energy serves many converters' drying needs, especially when combined with convection. Doug Misercola, president of DRI (Port Salerno, Fla.), says, "Basically, infrared is electromagnetic energy that has been around since the beginning of time. The sun is radiant energy. Periodically, manufacturers like myself come up with different ways to focus IR energy, and with unique elements to make it more efficient for today's high speed converting." Using radiant energy with the option of combining it with air, the IR dryer is one energy source that is finding its place in the package printing industry.