Cleaning Anilox Rollers

Shapiro, Fred

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/104624 Copy

Description

Title

Cleaning Anilox Rollers

Author(s)

Shapiro, Fred

Issue Date

2002

Keyword(s)

• Flexography -- Environmental aspects
• Printing presses -- Cleaning
• Printing industry -- Environmental aspects

Abstract

The key factor in metering ink in the flexographic printing process is the anilox roller. Etched with cells that act as the carriers of exact quantities of ink to the printing plate, the anilox roller must maintain its integrity through cleanliness. An anilox roller with plugged cells will deliver reduced amounts of ink, shifting color from the acceptable standards for the graphics. The use of solvents to clean the cells and maintain the quantity of ink transferred and, thereby, the quality of the graphics, has an effect on the environment. Air pollutants are released and hazardous waste is generated. As the amount of solvents used and converted to waste increases, so do demands on the printer to comply with increased regulatory requirements. Thus, the need to maintain the cleanliness of the anilox rollers becomes a critical event in the conduct of business. The cost of cleaning properly and environmentally responsibly must be weighed against the cost and liabilities of allowing rollers to plug and degenerate graphic quality, as well as the cost and exposure experienced by the printer after hazardous waste is generated.

Publisher

Champaign, IL : Printers' National Environmental Assistance Center

Series/Report Name or Number

PNEAC Fact Sheet

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/104624

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