PERIPHERALS In winter, beware “b-r-r-riperhals”

Now is the time to start preparing press peripheral equipment for cold weather. Every year, Heidelberg receives numerous calls from customers who come in on a Monday morning after a weekend shutdown to find that their dryers or combination units have been damaged by freezing temperatures.

The common misconception is that because the equipment is inside the building, it will not freeze. In fact, most of the calls about freezing damage come from comparatively warm places like Florida, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Texas. The preventive fix for the problem is a simple and inexpensive two-step process: 1. Install backflow prevention in the peripheral unit’s exhaust ventilation system. 2. Check the anti-freeze level in all fluid systems, bringing it to 10% to 30% antifreeze as required. Consult the unit’s documentation for the specifics.