Flash Poll Reveals Common Printer Problems with Ink, Anilox Rolls, Doctor Blades

Blade to Blame

Two blade issues—excessive wear and chamber starvation—can be frequent issues, according to members of the sample audience. When they present themselves, logical measures are quickly put into place.

When it comes to wear, once noticed, 34 percent said they would adjust blade/chamber impression and another 30 percent opted to change the blade. Eighteen percent were likely to try a different ink supplier and 18 percent kept going, expecting the issue would resolve itself.

Occurrences of ink chamber starvation caused 30 percent of respondents to adjust ink pump settings, 28 percent to check for blockages like plugged filters or kinked hoses, and 22 percent to slow down the press. The remaining 20 percent noted they check the ink reservoir as the first course of action.

Anilox Scoring

Supplier contact and blade swaps led the list of what to do to deal with anilox scoring, according to FTA members polled. Twenty-nine percent reached out to their anilox roll supplier as step No. 1; 20 percent went to their ink vendor.

Other tactics deployed—34 percent tried a different blade. Seventeen percent watched and waited.

What Method Do You Use to Clean Aniloxes?

Adhesion & Drying

Based on responses to FLEXO’s query, adhesion and drying/curing seemed to go hand-in-hand. Asked to comment on most popular measures taken when dealing with adhesion issues, 32 percent of printer respondents said they immediately check and adjust corona treater settings. Twenty-seven percent contact their ink supplier, 22 percent use primer and 19 percent change out the substrate.

When looking to better ink drying and curing effectiveness, 31 percent of the sample does an initial check of the dryers and lamps for condition, cleanliness and settings. Twenty-nine percent adjusts the ink, 21 percent slows the press down and 19 percent switches out the anilox roll.