IMPIANTI OMS S.p.A.

 

The gravure process for electroplating and engraving print rollers is well established as a high quality solution for printed containers and packaging. Until now the process has consisted of a thin coating of copper being applied to a steel roller prior to the engraving or gravure process for the print design.

 

This system has a fundamental limitation in that the finished diameter of the print roller must be calculated and machined to precisely cover the printed area. When a different cover dimension is required it is usually necessary to fabricate a completely new roller and print shops around the world are filled with used rollers which are “not quite” the right size.

 

Adopting a novel approach to this problem, Liverpool based Edwards Engineering Limited, in conjunction with Dow Hyperlast, have developed a new process for coating existing steel rollers to enable a reduced base inventory to be used over and over again. The process is sold under licence from Edwards/Dow Hyperlast and is known as the ROTAKOTE^TM Gravure Cylinder System.

 

Essentially, the process provides for the application of a special 3 component polyurethane elastomer material to a steel print roller using a rotational casting technique which builds up the overall diameter of the cylinder to exceed the final finished diameter. The cylinder is then machined to the required size and a special process then allows the steel/PU cylinder to be electroplated, fine machined and engraved to the precise dimension needed for the printing job in hand.

 

OMS has now supplied the 3 Component CAL Series low pressure metering units and rotary casting machinery for two successful projects and more interest is expected to be generated worldwide for this innovative and cost effective process.

 

 

Dow Hyperlast is the trading name of Hyperlast Limited, with Registration Number 2947247, having its Registered Office at Diamond House, Lotus Park, Kingsbury Crescent, Staines, Middlesex TW18 3AG.

 

ROTAKOTE^TM is a registered trade mark of Hyperlast Limited.

 

For further information contact: help@hyperlast.com