High-Level Anilox Performance

The future of anilox sleeves likely lies in a hollow sleeve with a composite carbon fiber outer tube and hubs that "slide" on the mandrels without an expansion layer. Such sleeves are available to the industry as plate sleeve bridges and such technology in the anilox sector could significantly reduce ink and cleaner contamination and corrosion, as well as allow press speeds greater than 2,500 fpm. Sleeve suppliers are beginning to develop such composite anilox sleeves for the newer high-speed, wide-web presses.