Anilox Engraving

Cost is another advantage of rolls. According to Lanska, the unique construction of the sleeve is a time-consuming and expensive process. As a result, sleeves tend to cost two to five times as much as conventional steel anilox cores.

“The ergonomic benefits of sleeves versus integral anilox rolls are well documented, [including] ease of handling, speed of changeover, interchagneability from one engraving to another, and easier storage,” says Steve Wilkinson, general manager, ARC International. “The downside of sleeves is the relatively short time frame that a sleeve can lose its engineered tolerances during normal running, as the internal expandable structure hardens and softens due to the heat buildup, work hardening, impression set, and mechanical damage that can and does occur in varying degrees dependent on the time that the sleeve is run.” pP