Phoseon praises South Africa's GM Graphix for use of solar power

GM Graphix is the first flexographic printing company in the world to run a 6-color flexo press, an MPS 340, with LED curing technology, powered by solar panels. The flexo press combines consumables from Paragon Inks and LED light sources from Phoseon Technology, and uses 70 percent less energy to produce labels, while increasing the printer's productivity by 75 percent.

Pieter Massyn at GM Graphix said: ‘The start-up time for the LED light sources is instant, saving us at least 30 minutes production time per day compared to mercury lamps. In addition, the inks are more stable and dry much faster with LED, so productivity increases and sharper color can be achieved.’

GM Graphix explained that it reduced its carbon footprint by 17 percent by the end of 2015, and estimates a further reduction of another 16 percent by the end of 2016. The company estimates saving of 41.45 percent on electricity kWh within the first six months of 2016.

The solar power currently generates approximately 28kWh for seven hours per day in winter; and if GM Graphix plans according to color, web width and speed, it can print an average of eight hours per day with solar power. The printer is currently opening a new demo facility in Bloemfontein, South Africa, to support the solar installation.