Bankrollers

According to Jacob, chrome demand remains healthy for coating and applications requiring coarser cell patterns. Some customers try laser and return to chrome because they don't want to spend more for ceramic and then lose the roll to damage, he adds.

At ARC International, mechanically engraved rolls are primarily used by large corrugated customers, says President and CEO Mike Foran. To give typical chrome customers a taste of ceramic's enhanced quality potential, ARC released a hybrid roll technology last year that is plasma coated, laser engraved with mechanical engraving tolerances, and the same price as mechanically engraved rolls.