Laser engraved anilox rolls

The anilox roll is often referred to as the heart of the flexo printing process. This cylinder, honeycombed with millions of miniscule cells, is used in combination with a fine wiping blade to ink the printing plate. Up until the early 1980s, few would say this delivery system was lovely, though. The cells were mechanically engraved on a chrome surface that wore and plugged easily, compromising ink transfer to the plate and subsequently making it difficult to achieve and control color densities.