Side Channel Blowers in the Printing Industry

Ensuring Efficiency, Quality and Reliability

Side Channel Technology has become a reliable powerhouse in today’s Printing Industry. Side Channel Blowers supply reliable vacuum or pressure at different points in the printing industry. From sheet-feed or web-based printing to specialized finishing tasks, side channel blowers can keep your operation on schedule and your print quality high.

In this article we will explore how Side Channel technology makes a difference across the printing industry, why the technology is critical for paper handling and how Ehrler & Beck can support you in making the right decision for your operation

Why do Side Channel Blowers matter in Printing?

The Printing Industry relies on prices control of paper or other substrates moving at high speeds. From feeding and separation to holding and extracting waste, blowers provide the necessary vacuum or pressure to keep things running smoothy with minimum maintenance.

  • Reliability with Low-Maintenance

    Within the high-volume printing of the Printing Industry, downtime is the enemy. Side Channel Blowers are built tough and don’t require much upkeep, this way your business can keep them running around the clock without constant attention.

  • Cleanliness

    Printing can generate substrate dust, scraps and other contaminants that lower printing quality, slow down the operation and even damage various equipment. Side Channel Blowers help remove those particles, keeping your area clean.

  • Versatile Application

    Side Channel Blowers are not limited to just a single task. They come in handy for feeding and separating sheets, applying suction to hold paper in place, maintaining tension on web presses and even cleaning during finishing work.

  • Efficiency

    Smooth, consistent production movements equal fewer repeats and jams. Translating to lower operating costs and faster turnaround, a major win for the Side Channel Blowers

A Quick Example

Picture a large print shop running a big job on a four-color sheet-fed press. Thanks to a well-chosen side channel blower, every sheet gets lifted and fed in perfect alignment—no doubles, no partial feeds. As the sheets move through each print unit, vacuum-assisted transport keeps them on track, delivering high-quality results with minimal waste.

Whether you are looking to upgrade existing setups or want to explore new ways to optimize your Printing Business, Ehrler & Beck has you covered. We offer various Side Channel blowers from various manufactures, buyback of your old equipment, long term maintenance agreement and more.

Ehrler & Beck can become your single-source partner, delivering complete long-term solutions.

Applications for Side Channel Blowers for the Printing Industry

  1. Plate Cleaning & Dust Removal
    • Before printing plates are mounted or imaged, side channel blowers can provide a controlled air stream to remove dust, lint, or other contaminants.
  2. Substrate Conditioning
    • In some facilities, blowers help remove static or moisture from paper or boards, ensuring smooth feeding and image consistency.
  3. Pre-Press Staging/Transport
    • Vacuum or low-pressure air can assist in moving stacks of paper or plates between stations without manual labor.

  1. Paper Feeding & Separation
    • A classic use: vacuum holds the top sheet, while a gentle air blast “fans” or separates sheets underneath to prevent double-feeds.
  2. Register Control & Alignment
    • Side channel blowers help keep sheets precisely aligned on the press cylinder for accurate color registration.
  3. Vacuum Hold-Down on Press
    • Ensures each sheet stays perfectly flat during high-speed printing, reducing smudging and jams.
  4. Sheet Transfer Between Units
    • In multi-color sheet-fed presses, side channel blowers can help transfer sheets from one print unit to the next.
  5.  

  1. Web Guidance & Tension Control
    • Directed air flows stabilize and guide the web (continuous roll of paper) through high-speed offset or flexographic presses.
  2. Edge Trimming Extraction
    • Vacuum channels remove trimmed edges or waste strips, ensuring a clean print path and reduced downtime.
  3. Dust & Lint Removal
    • Roll-based printing often generates tiny paper fibers—side channel blowers help extract them to maintain print quality and equipment cleanliness.
  4. Cooling & Drying
    • Low-pressure air can accelerate ink drying or coating solidification on high-speed web presses.
  5.  

  1. Media Hold-Down (Flatbed Printers)
    • Vacuum suction is critical for keeping large sheets, boards, or flexible substrates in place.
  2. Sheet or Roll Feeding
    • Similar to traditional printing, but especially important in sign-making, display, and packaging prototypes.
  3. Final Print Dust-Off

  1. Cutting & Trimming
    • Guillotine cutters often use vacuum hold-down to keep sheets secure, while air blast can clear away trim scraps.
  2. Die-Cutting & Blanking
    • Vacuum ensures materials don’t shift during intricate cuts. Scrap removal blowers help pull away cutouts or waste.
  3. Folding Machines
    • Side channel blowers help open sheets before folding, or create suction to pull sheets accurately into folding pockets.
  4. Collating & Binding
    • From saddle stitching to perfect binding, vacuum feeders ensure precise gathering and alignment of pages.
  5. Lamination & Coating
    • Controlled air flow can smooth out wrinkles or bubbles, while vacuum systems remove any trapped air pockets.
  6. Embossing & Foil Stamping
    • Blowers help remove excess foil waste or keep sheets from sticking together due to static.
  7. Scoring & Perforating

Paper dust is extracted to keep tooling clean and ensure consistent scoring or perforation depth

  1. Vacuum Conveying of Trim
    • In large-scale operations, side channel blowers can transport cut-off edges and paper scraps through ducts to waste compactors.
  2. Dust Collection
    • Fine paper particles, especially in high-speed environments, need continuous suction to keep machinery clear and safe.
  3. Waste Separation

Blowers can help channel different types of waste (e.g., plastic film backing vs. paper) into separate collection points

  1. Blank Feeding
    • Vacuum pick-up systems handle delicate envelope blanks and feed them reliably into folding and sealing machines.
  2. Glue Application Support
    • Precisely controlled airflow keeps surfaces free from lint or dust before adhesive application.
  3. Scrap Removal
    • Any small cutouts or scrap from windows or corners can be evacuated via side channel blower systems.

  1. Cardboard/Folding Carton Handling
    • Though often considered a separate segment, many print houses also produce packaging. Side channel blowers assist in feeding heavier board stock and removing die-cut waste.
  2. Corrugated Box Printing
    • High-pressure air can help keep large corrugated sheets in place, while vacuum systems remove debris from the flute edges during flexographic printing.
  3. Label & Sticker Application
    • Vacuum “peel plates” help separate labels from liners at high speeds, and blowers can eject used liners into waste bins.

  1. Ink Mist Extraction
    • Some UV or high-speed inkjet systems create a fine mist; side channel blowers can provide negative pressure to capture it.
  2. Roller Cleaning
    • Air blow-off can help remove excess ink or cleaning solution from press rollers after wash-ups.
  3. Static Neutralization
    • While not a direct use of blowers for suction or pressure, the airflow helps distribute ionizing bars’ effects, reducing static cling that can disrupt printing.
  4. Press Cooling
    • Side channel blowers can provide forced air cooling for press components, motors, or UV lamps in high-volume production environments.

  1. Security Printing (Banknotes, Stamps, etc.)
    • Vacuum and air pressure help in highly precise feeding and anti-static protocols, though specialized solutions may be used.
  2. 3D Printing Integration
    • In rare cases, blowers are used to evacuate excess powder (in powder-bed processes) or provide air for drying or cooling in large-scale additive manufacturing lines that integrate ink-based or polymer coatings.
  3. Hybrid Presses (Inkjet + Offset)
    • Requires multiple vacuum and airflow points for integrated finishing steps, quick drying, and sheet/roll transitions between printing technologies.

  1. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) or Robotic Stations
    • Vacuum end-effectors or blowers might be used for palletizing or depalletizing stacks of printed materials.
  2. Conveyor Air Tables
    • Some facilities have air tables where sheets are floated or guided using forced air, preventing scratching on sensitive substrates.
  3. Stack Turning or Jogging
    • Dedicated machines turn large stacks of paper or jog them to align edges, often using air jets or vacuum suction for stability.