Benefits from today’s anilox rolls include dot gain reduction, improved color quality, and longer roll life

By Tom Polischuk

Ehrenberg—Chrome-plated, mechanically engraved rolls can have significant life in roll-to-roll metering, and when dealing with very heavy film thicknesses of high-viscosity materials, mechanically engraved chrome continues to be a good choice due to its release characteristics. However, wear will continue to plague any wide usage of this product. As laser engraving of ceramics continues to evolve, I believe the life cycle of chrome-plated mechanical engravings will eventually come to an end. Environmental issues as well continue to drive the plating market down.