Anilox Rolls and Plates
- Keep them Clean!
Lars Holm, Sales Director, Flexo Wash
Flexo Wash
 Based in Aarhus, Denmark
 Flexo Wash UK in Leeds
– Office, service, consumables stock
– Demo van
– Narrow Web Sales by PGM, Claus Nielsen
The Anilox Roll
“THE HEART OF THE FLEXO
PROCESS!”
Periodic maintenance and care of
the anilox is critical to the
converters’ survival !
Plugged Anilox Rolls Cause:
 Inadequate ink distribution
 Poor color densities
 Difficulties matching color
 Wasted: time, ink, substrate
Dirty / Damaged Plates cause
 Poor print Quality
 Remaking of plates
 Wasted: time, ink, substrate plates
KEEP CLEAN!
 Before – “Reactive”:
– Deep clean the anilox when it no longer
performs.
 Today – “Proactive”:
– Clean rolls after each job run
– Clean rolls on a regular maintenance schedule
– Clean rolls immediately after removal from the
press & before storage
– Keep new rolls clean from day #1
WHY IS CLEANING
IMPORTANT NOW?
THERE ARE TWO (2)
IMPORTANT REASONS !
1. Management Challenges:
PRESSURES AND DEMANDS FROM
CUSTOMERS AND PRINT
COMPETITION:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shorter job runs
Shorter lead times
More changeover
New technologies – Digital
Lean manufacturing pressures
Pricing pressures from customers
Quality demands - zero defects and waste
2. Technology Challenges:
 Deeper, smaller cells can exasperate plugging issues.
 HD printing plates are more fragile and difficult to clean.
 High density cells per inch with 2 micron cell walls make
anilox more fragile & susceptible to damage
 Pads, abrasive cleaners, brushes etc. are losing their
effectiveness and causing damage in the smaller, deeper
cells and plates.
Improper handling - Doctor blade scoring &
POOR CLEANING METHODS!
Return On Investment
How much money do you spend on:
 Labour time on manual washing, rinsing, drying?
 Downtime because of dirty aniloxes / plates
causing incosistent print quality?
 Wasted ink and material because of dirty aniloxes / plates
causing incosistent print quality?
 New plates and aniloxes because of damage by
manual washing/handling?
=ROI in less than One Year!
Before Choosing a Cleaning Method:
Is it:
 Easy to use?
 Safe?
 Gentle on the anilox
and plate?
 Effective?
 Quick?
 100% automatic?
Using Flexo Wash Anilox Cleaning Systems
 No wear and tear on the rollers (Only liquid, water and air)
 Fully automatic (wash, rinse, dry - no manual labour required)
 Easy-to-use
(Place the rolls, close lid and press start)
 Cost-efficient process (EUR 1 per roll)
 Quick cleaning process (10-15 minutes full cycle)
 A daily tool for roll cleaning
Using Flexo Wash Plate Wash Systems

No wear and tear on the plates
(liquid, soft brushes, water and air)

Fully automatic
(wash, rinse, dry - no manual labour required)

Easy-to-use
(Place the plates from print job on belt and
collect them in tray afterwards)

Cost-efficient process (EUR 0,2-0,3 per plate meter)

Quick cleaning process (3 minutes per plate meter)

Standard application for 1,14 – 1,7mm. plates
Thank you!