Leading suppliers of the most successful carbon fibre chamber systems on the market with over 5,000 installations worldwide, Absolute have now produced a range of asymmetrical chambers which will revolutionise flexo printing still further – eradicating back doctoring (back-blading) issues and dramatically reducing ink loss.
The main problem when using standard symmetrical chambers is that, unless the anilox is perfectly clean, water-based ink can shift its position in the cell during rotation.
When the doctoring blade is uppermost in a chambered blade system, surplus ink is wiped away by the retaining blade, creating back doctoring across the width of the chamber, wasting ink and making a mess.
If, on the other hand, the retaining blade is uppermost, residue builds up on this blade before running to the end seals and dripping down. This is often confused with seal failure.
Cleaning the roller thoroughly is, of course, vital to ensure correct transfer volumes, but this cleaning process is time-consuming, expensive and labour intensive.
Now, with its range of asymmetrical profiles, Absolute has the solution for these problems. The flatter angle of the retaining blade allows ink to re-enter the cells yet prevents dripping, minimising or eliminating the back doctoring effect. The result? A cleaner process with less waste, increased efficiency and smoother, quicker production.
Another concern: you must have the optimal doctoring angle to wipe the cell surface totally clean, and this requires several different profiles to complement different anilox diameters. Fortunately, Absolute have produced different versions of the asymmetrical range to cover most Anilox diameters for applications including corrugated pre-print, corrugated post-print and tissue.
Managing Director Antony Whiteside is confident the range will prove a welcome boost for the packaging industry. “After developing our asymmetrical system, we’ve been trialling it ourselves with great success. Regardless of the materials printed, these chambers drastically cut ink loss and waste, keeping pace with modern processes.
‘Now it’s time to pass on the benefits to our customers who have come to expect quality applications and the best possible value from us.”
