Specifying the Right Anilox Roll
By: Mary Hamrick, Marketing Communications Manager, Harper Corp. of America
What’s Involved?
When purchasing an anilox roll, hit-or-miss specifications can cause real problems for you down the road. Simply understanding that an anilox is made up of thousands of microscopic ink-carrying cells is not enough. It is also necessary to have a basic understanding of the characteristics of the cells and their impact on ink transfer. The following information will help you avoid unnecessary problems caused by inaccurate specifications when ordering an anilox roll.
What To Consider
There are three main cell characteristics important to understand including:
1. The angle of the cells (60°, 45°, 30°, etc.)
2. The carrying capacity of the cell (or cell volume)
3. The number of cells per linear inch (or line screen)
Angle of the Cells
Other than random patterns, anilox cell angles can include the 60° hex pattern, the 30° hex pattern, and the 45° diamond pattern (as shown below).



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