Dryers
Dual Zone
Dual Zone suits print runs where the image does not heat evenly across the platen or conveyor width. Separate output on each side lets the operator push more energy into a heavy ink area while holding back over lighter sections.
Split Heat Across One Head
Dual Zone gives operators separate control over two heating areas on the same dryer setup. That is useful where one substrate or print layout needs more heat in one section than another.
On South African print lines, Dual Zone helps with oversized chest prints, sleeve placements, neck labels, and packs carrying a dense flood beside a fine detail panel. Inland dust and coastal moisture both change how quickly a test print reaches working temperature, so each zone should be checked under the same shop conditions as the run. Ceramic IR and quartz banks respond differently, which matters when deciding whether the hotter side must recover fast between indexes.
Run the first setup with a marked sample showing left and right heater settings. After that, pin the zone readings near the press so the next shift can restart with the same split rather than resetting both sides by feel.
Useful Outputs From Dual Zone
A dual zone layout gives the crew two controllable heating sections on one dryer position instead of one blanket level across the whole print area. That is useful where one artwork panel carries a white underbase or heavier deposit and the adjoining area needs less exposure to avoid scorching, gloss shift, or substrate distortion.
Before sending a query through the contact form, note the substrate, print area, ink system, and whether the Dual Zone unit must match dryers already on your line. Include the heater type in use now if the line already runs ceramic IR or quartz.
- Independent left and right heat control
- Settings recorded per zone for repeat runs
- Notes tied to one dryer setup
SA Print Room Conditions
Plants in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, and regional packaging sites often run mixed work through the same heating station, which is where split zones become useful. A short run on cartons in the morning and garments in the afternoon can call for different balance across the heater face, especially where one edge of the image carries more coverage.
Near the coast, moisture in the air can alter how a substrate accepts heat during startup. On Highveld sites, dust build-up on reflectors and guards should be checked often because uneven contamination can make one zone read differently from the other during test prints and routine cleaning.
Operated by Astros Marketing (Pty) Ltd from 2 Makro Place, Sunnyrock 1401.
Information Needed For Split Zones
Send the print size, substrate type, ink build, and which side of the image needs extra heat. A photo of the current platen or conveyor position also helps show whether the hotter zone must sit left, right, front, or rear on the working setup.
If one area has been under-curing or a lighter section is overexposing, mention that in the request together with any temperature readings or dwell times you are using now. That makes it easier to match Dual Zone control to the way the line is actually being run.
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