The Magic of One

"This helps them to tell the overall performance of the individual anilox, as well as the entire inventory. This is a great way to keep tabs on such an important investment," Temple said.

In the end, however, experience with rolls and the cleaning system used will also play a major role in keeping the rolls in shape. This is because every cleaning system has advantages and limitations that will either clean the rolls or do them harm. "Through your experience, you may find shorter cleaning times are possible or that longer soaking times are needed," explained Marty Cansler, national sales manager, Pressroom Products at Max Daetwyler Corp. "You may find that some ink types clean faster than others and some require a stronger mixture. You may find that adhesives, varnishes—especially with cross-linked resins—need longer cleaning times."