Maximize Your Anilox Investment

With anilox rolls being a main artery of the flexographic printing process, you would be foolish not to maximize their value. Not to sound trite, but the United States economy is hurting at the moment, and it’s not easy getting the most bang for your buck these days. Consider this: statistics show that 80 to 85 percent of all rolls are damaged prior to being worn out, according to Mike Huey, technical graphics manager at Western Division, Harper GraphicSolutions (www.harperimage.com). “Routine cleaning, inspection, and storage all play a large factor in providing optimum care for these delicate instruments,” he says. “Identifying root causes of damage and enacting measures to protect against future damage is critical to prolonged anilox life.” There are also other ways to get the most out of your anilox rolls, including resurfacing existing rolls and working with your suppliers to enter into buying programs.