45 www.printmonthly.co.uk Issue 359 - March | April 2026 HUMIDIFICATION SYSTEMS | JONATHAN PERT humidity control.” Other steam humidifiers include the Condair RS, which incorporates a scale collection tank. This tank can be routinely emptied by on-site personnel, with the aim of extending the periods between necessary maintenance visits. Marshall-George does point out that steam humidifiers use more energy than cold water systems, as they are boiling water to create humidity, commenting: “As the initial purchase and install costs are lower than a spray system,” he clarifies: “Financially steam units can make sense if the required output is relatively low.” Before installation, Condair’s sales engineers visit the site to review what is the most appropriate solution for a client. This will take into account factors including the area’s size, heat gain, ventilation, and local water quality, alongside considerations such as budget, energy use, and on-going maintenance. According to Marshall-George, a key change in recent years has been the diversifying range of substrates used by printers. As he describes: “The more sensitive stocks can be more hygroscopic, and therefore dimensionally unstable at varying humidity. Modern print machines are also faster and run with more precision. Both these factors result in a greater demand for tighter environmental controls to minimise defect rates, which includes an increased need for humidification.” Condair’s latest humidifiers incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) connected control systems which enable operation and performance to be remotely monitored by the manufacturer, with maintenance identified and scheduled only when necessary. The aim of the system is to relieve on-site facility managers of worries connected to humidity control while ensuring optimal humidifier performance and the ideal printing environment. The manufacturer is also shortly launching a new high pressure spray system designed for flexibility. While the full details of the machine are yet to be announced, Marshall-George says that it is “designed to be highly flexible in its configuration options,” allowing it to “precisely fit the needs of any printer, large or small.” The new system will be available in capacities from 100 to 500 litres per hour, with several water treatment options and 12 different nozzle systems. Offered with a wide range of service and remote monitoring packages, the spray humidifier will be, as Marshall-George puts it, “precisely tailored by Condair engineers to suit any print room humidification need.” From Creation to Installation Condair works with a range of suppliers and installers which help companies integrate its humidification solutions within their facilities. One of those suppliers is RGP Solutions, an independent sales and service company that provides humidity control, water treatment, reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment, and refrigeration services to industries including print and packaging. Richard Guthrie, sales director at RGP Solutions, says: “We specialise within the print industry mainly with large high-pressure multi-zone cold water humidifiers. They are ideal for controlling multiple areas I think the future for humidifiers will be very interesting with a changing climate and print processes rapidly evolving ▲ Condair’s latest humidifiers can be remotely monitored by the manufacturer
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