Max Daetwyler Corp.

ANILOX ROLL CLEANING is a necessary part of the printing process. Without proper care, anilox cells clog and lead to inadequate ink distribution, poor color densities, and difficulties in matching colors. There are several cleaning systems on the market today, most suited for a variety of roll widths, diameters, and line screens. No matter what cleaning method is used, "Today's systems must be safe, effective, consistent, and efficient," said Wes Stone, technical manager at WS Packaging-Superior Label Systems (Mason, Ohio). Chemical wash Chemical wash systems clean aniloxes by enclosing the rolls in a washing machine where it is sprayed with a chemical cleaning agent.

WITH WINTER WEATHER firmly in place, warmth is something that is on everyone's mind. Here's something that is sure to add some heat to 2004. packagePrinting has put together a collection of the hot products of 2004. In categories including prepress, presses, press accessories, substrates, and inks/adhesives, converters can get a glimpse of the latest package-printing products. Prepress Creo Creo's HyperFlex™ screening is new technology aiding in the formation of smaller dots on a photopolymer flexo plate. It provides a thicker foundation of photopolymer material that allows a smaller minimum dot size to be formed and held throughout the print process. DuPont

What products and companies were most sought-after in 2001 by packagePRINTING readers? Here's the scoop on the year's most-wanted technologies, ranked below based on responses to both editorial features and display advertising.*** TOP 10: Prepress Equipment 1. Anderson & Vreeland—Photopolymer plate processing systems, rubber plate molding presses, flexo platemaking materials, digital imaging systems and software 2. DuPont Cyrel—Photopolymer plate and prepress systems, including Cyrel FAST thermal technology 3. BASF—Nyloflex® and nyloprint® equipment combinations for processing flexo and letterpress plates and sleeves 4. MacDermid—Sheet, liquid, digital, and water-wash photopolymer plates, platemaking equipment, sleeves, and plate mounting systems for flexo printing 5. CreoScitex—PDF-based packaging

Gravure industry insiders tackle key issues for optimum ink transfer and reveal equipment developments aiding the cause. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor Blade basics Though gravure printing's consistency and dependability as a printing process are well-publicized, press operators should keep a close eye on doctor blade configuration. Max Daetwyler Product Sales Manager Marty Cansler affirms, "What is often crucial for consistent print quality is the ability of the doctor blade to provide clean and even ink application during the entire print run." As he elaborates, maintaining the blade contact area is integral to controlling such print defects as hazing and color variation. Contact area

Developments in presses and ancillary equipment have made gravure's consistency and vibrancy viable for short runs. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor Call it the "me" generation of packaging. Individualized, shorter runs are on the it-list of customers across the gamut of package printing processes. Fifteen years ago, this wasn't particularly good news for gravure, the king of long-runs. The larger set-up costs and longer pre-production time involved in printing with cylinders rendered "short-run gravure" a near-oxymoron. The evolution of quicker-change presses and innovative ways of engraving, however, has introduced gravure into the shorter-run arena. And with set-up costs on a steady decline,

Advances in electronic and laser technology and expanded cylinder choices push the dynamic progression of gravure engraving. By Susan Friedman Gravure engraving technology and service suppliers are carving out distinct grooves that can help package printers make more educated decisions about handling engraving themselves or engaging a trade shop. Bob Balzan, VP sales/marketing at Max Daetwyler Corp., says printers who also engrave typically have two to 10 presses, 25-120 employees, and spend $300,000 to $500,000 for an engraving machine. Engraving service providers contend that taking on the complexities of engraving in-house often results in costly mistakes, and can distract from the core business