Harper Presentation On Ceramic Rollers At ICE USA

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Bill Poulson, a member of the GraphicSolutions™ unit at global anilox supplier Harper Corporation, will detail the advantages of laser-engraved ceramic rollers during the ICE USA show in Orlando.

A 34-year printing industry veteran, Poulson is Harper’s northeast technical graphics advisor. He is a specialist in coatings and custom labeling and serves as a narrow web press trainer. Also, Poulson served as co-chairman of a session devoted to pressroom and production practices during an FTA Forum.

The International Converting Exhibition (ICE)—scheduled April 6 - 8—will feature three full days of tech presentations focused on web coating, web handling, package printing, converting processes, and quality and measurement issues. More than 250 national and international suppliers will showcase their flexible material converting technologies and services.

Poulson will be part of a final-day look at measurement, quality, and chemistry concerns in package printing and converting. He will compare the use of chrome rollers to laser engraved ceramic rollers.

“Whether the application is flexographic or gravure, there are considerable benefits to making the conversion from chrome rollers to laser engraved ceramic rollers,” Poulson said. “There are parameters—volume and surface preparation—that must be maintained for the ceramic roller.”

The biggest key, according to Poulson, is knowing how chrome and engraved ceramic rollers react to each other. Release characteristics of ceramics are different. But once the variation is calculated, press operators can expect a huge payback in surface wear, he said.

“This longer surface life of these [ceramic] rollers allows a slower wear curve, which results in better consistency of coat weight throughout a press run,” Poulson said.