Anilox Engraving

Engraving rolls and sleeves

Despite the type of anilox device you spec, the full gamut of engraving techniques is available, including laser engraving. The engraved surfaces, in general, are the same. “Most anilox sleeves have an outermost layer composed of metal, typically aluminum,” says David Lanska, midwest regional sales manager, Stork Cellramics. “This surface reacts to processing in a very similar fashion to a conventional steel core. Once overcoated with ceramic, the laser reacts the same to the sleeve or the roll.” He adds that once the sleeves are mounted on air cylinders, the processing steps are nearly identical for sleeves and conventional rolls.