MPS has developed E-Sleeve, new sleeving technology said to offer precise concentricity across the entire plate.
E-Sleeve will be demonstrated at Labelexpo Europe 2019 as part of an EF Symjet hybrid press line. EF Symjet combines MPS’s flexo expertise with Domino digital printing technology.
Designed as an alternative to traditional sleeves that use compressible material, the new E-Sleeve is claimed to enable printers to generate predictable results at increased speeds, with guaranteed quality tolerances and more reliable production cost calculations.
Key features include optimum pressure settings to avoid unnecessary bouncing, precise concentric runout properties, constant parallelism for ideal register across the entire print length, and increased dimensional accuracy for optimum register between all colours and die stations. With a reduced weight, E-Sleeves also provides easier and faster job changeovers and lower lifetime tooling costs through improved durability.
‘Flexographic printing sleeves play a critical role in the overall flexo printing process, as they have a major influence on print efficiency and quality,’ said Bert van den Brink, MPS co-founder. ‘We at MPS saw the need to change from sleeves that use an aero-mounting principle with a compressible inner core, to a design with precise concentricity across the entire plate for optimum print results. It’s a game changer for the printing industry.’
At Labelexpo Europe 2019, MPS launches a 430mm-wide EF Symjet integrating the new Domino N617i inkjet module. The press will be equipped with five flexo stations, digital cold foil, a Kurz cold foil unit for single images and optical effects, lamination, and die-cutting.
