Keeping Your Aniloxes Healthy

Rich Rosenberger, corporate printing manager (flexography), Solo Cup Company, says the company runs a high alkaline solution through the chambers while engaged to the anilox roll when a deck is not in use. “This thoroughly cleans not only the cells, but also the entire inking system,” he explains. “We also change the magnets and filters at this time.” Solo Cup uses either sodium bicarbonate blasting chambers, which can reach down into the cells and basically sandblast the dried acrylics, or it uses sonic baths, which basically send high-frequency waves through a high-alkaline solution, vibrating dry acrylics out of the cells. Operators also use handheld brushes, which serve to move a high-alkaline solution over and into the cells, so it is a thorough rinsing with the brush and absorbent rags that are instrumental when the roll is in the press.