On web-fed rotogravure presses, the printing substrate passes over many sets of rollers in the different printing stations. This high-speed travel causes repeated contact/separation events that generate a static charge.  One spark from a static discharge could, in many cases, ignite the solvent-laden atmosphere at the print stations and result in fire or explosion and serious injury or death.

Only ATEX-certified static control products may be used in hazardous area EX applications.  Positioning static control equipment before and after each print station will neutralise the static charges and reduce the safety risks in hazardous area EX printing applications.

More information from the UK Government Health and Safety Executive in relation to Hazardous Area Classifications can be found here.