Flexo Sleeves Gain Traction

Stork OptiFLEX sleeves are composed of a very thin (0.013˝) composite, a seamless layer of photopolymer, and a black LAM. A high-performance fiber is required to achieve the thin structure. According to Gene Profitt, business unit manager for Stork, “Seamless ITR thin sleeves benefit the industry by promoting increased plate lifetime, faster press speeds, elimination of plate lift, elimination of cushion tape expense, and faster press job set up. Print quality gets a boost from near-perfect registration; high-quality, repeatable imaging; and better TIR (total indicated runout) tolerance when compared with a plate and separate sleeve cushion.” Stork also makes the mandrels and adapter for use with OptiFLEX sleeves.