Apex | Articles & Videos

After centuries of economic and technological progress, the packaging and converting world is more connected than ever. Globalization has impacted all facets of our industry, fostering innovation and collaboration across borders for years. For converters operating in flexo, coating and embossing applications, you may find that working with a global manufacturer comes with many competitive advantages, not just for global converters, but for local converters as well.

What does innovation have to do with the anilox roller in flexo printing? To answer that question, let’s look at the definition of innovation. “Innovation is the creation, development and implementation of a new product, process or service, with the aim of improving efficiency, effectiveness or competitive advantage”.

Both Apex and its customers need to measure aniloxes - but for different reasons! Control and consistency are the foundation for process standardization, ECG printing and  improved productivity in flexographic printing. The anilox surface – where ink meets plate – has always been the foundation for achieving high print quality on a repeatable basis “ideally” without constant process adjustments. Apex focused on this challenge and reinvented the basics of ink-to-plate transfer by creating the Patented GTT engraving. This advancement has resulted in a far more consistent anilox which is proven, both in print production at customers and internally with the microscopic measurement control possible from both Troika and MD control systems. These two systems validate that Apex aniloxes are produced globally with the highest level of accuracy.

Apex takes anilox accuracy to the next level - Troika AniCAM microscopes bring further volume measurement control. 
Flexo printers around the world agree that productivity is key to their business success. To improve productivity, they need their printing process to be consistent and predictable. This is no easy task, given the amount of variables surrounding flexo technology. Apex’ anilox rolls take at least one important variable out of the complex equation. By adding Troika AniCAM microscopes to its worldwide measurement and control system, Apex even furthers the accuracy of every anilox it manufactures and supplies.

Apex International’s headquarters is based in Hapert, the Netherlands. Apex is the world's largest manufacturer of precision flexographic ink-to-plate transfer technology including anilox rolls and sleeves for narrow- and wide-web, corrugated, offset and coating applications. Have a look inside our state-of-the art facility.

Apex and VIV take flexo to the next level: Going digital on a flexo press may sound like a contradiction to many people. Weinand Van Kesteren however has been perfecting his ‘Smart Digital Flexo’ concept for over a year now. And he is convinced it will enable his company VIV to become a leader in producing high quality flexible packaging in short and very short runs: “We like to do things just a little different here.”

Providing the highest quality in flexographic printing has always been key to the rise of Uniflex, ever since its foundation in 1996. Based in Minsk (Belarus), it is now one of the biggest producers of flexible packaging of the CIS and Eastern Europe. Constantly looking for ways to further improve its performance, Uniflex recently decided to switch to Apex anilox rollers: “GTT rollers allow us to print at maximum production speed, while maintaining stable an invariable ink transfer at all times.”

Perfectly constructed anilox rolls should mount and dismount without any issues.  They should slide and rotate easily on the mandrel.  However, if an anilox sleeve will not mount because the necessary air film cannot be established between the sleeve and the air mandrel, here are 10 tips to help you troubleshoot the issue:

In order to maintain the life and performance standards of your anilox inventory, anilox rolls/sleeves must be cleaned immediately after a press run to remove the ink. If ink is allowed to dry, the build-up of deposits inside the cell decreases the amount of ‘fluid’ ink to be transferred onto a printing plate during subsequent runs. Because your volume transfer is not consistent, your print quality will become inconsistent too. By using a regular cleaning procedure, you can easily avoid this.

Even the highest quality anilox rolls need proper care in order to maintain their performance. And because the anilox is considered by many to be the heart of any flexo press, the importance of regular cleaning and maintenance cannot be overstated. The anilox is a precision instrument that drives the efficiency and consistency of your printing process. Take care of your anilox and they will take care of you.