Maintaining your gravure cylinder in the best conditions is the best decision that you can make. It is the only that you can ensure your cylinder is reaching the provided lifespan and possibly extend it. Without it, it will be very costly for your printing business.
There are several things you need to get right to maintain the gravure cylinder. That’s what we have for you in this guide. We have rounded some of the key things you need to consider for proper maintenance. Check out the following:
Buy Good Quality
Investing in good quality gravure cylinder should always be the first thing. You will never be able to maintain your cylinder in the best condition if it is substandard. So, from the onset, make sure that you have the best quality product for the job.
Proper Engraving
With engraving of the rotogravure cylinder being the most widely used technique, you need to consider the quality of the engraving. Use the right engraving machine and use it properly. The engraving operator must be well trained. A mistake of using the setting on the laser beam when engraving can cause a lot of damages.
Safe Cleaning
Ensure your gravure cylinder is kept clean all the time, especially after printing. Use the right cleaning process and use the right cleaning materials. Some metals are sensitive to acid, and this using acidic cleaning fluids can damage them. The removal of the ink and other foreign particles should not be difficult.
Lubrication
One of the mistakes that people make is forgetting to apply oil on the gravure cylinder after they are done with the cleaning. Like most metals, rusting can happen, and other forms of deterioration caused by moisture. Therefore, you need to consider this as one of the crucial maintenance tips. Make sure that you have wrapped the cylinder after oil application with plastic paper.
Proper Chrome
The remove chrome layer (the upper protective layer) and even the engraved copper layer should be done carefully. If not, you might cause a lot of damages to the cylinder. In most cases, the user manual provides steps and other ideas on removing these layers.
Proper Storage
How you store the gravure cylinder is another factor to consider when it comes to maintenance. When not using the cylinder and having cleaned it. One of the best storage is to keep it vertically on the floor. The second best storage is storing horizontally on any surface, but you need to wrap it in soft material to prevent damages.