In-the-Round Plate Imaging

New ideas on the horizon

One project on the table is the Continuous in the Round Uniform Sleeve (CITRUS). CITRUS is a "thin sleeve" with polymer directly applied to create an imaging blank that is then blown onto a cushioned bridge sleeve before imaging and processing completely in the round.

Other implementations are already on the market or are close to being ready for commercialization. I think that means we can expect to see ITR heating up soon—if not for the immediate payback in the pressroom, then for the very provocative impact on flexo reproduction quality.