Print Sleeves Popularity & Press Format
Wide web printers voiced the greatest demand for print sleeves/cylinders. Several offered multiple responses, as a result of positioning two or more presses in plant. Specifically:
- 71 percent of FLEXO Flash Poll respondents reported the plant’s press was at least 40-in. wide
- 17 percent had presses between 6-in. and 12-in. wide
- 17 percent had presses 17-in. to 26-in. wide
- 12.5 percent cited web widths of 27-in. to 40-in.
- 12.5 percent utilized sleeves on machines that measure 13-in. to 16-in.
Sample audience members ranked the following features of print sleeves and cylinders in order of importance to the operation:
- 52 percent gave stability the top slot
- 20 percent listed material manufactured from, as the No. 2 concern
- 16 percent said wear and scratch resistance were third in importance
- 8 percent identified price
- 4 percent pinpointed delivery time
- Quality/tolerance, with 52 percent ranking it first
- Quality/product life/durability—44 percent ranked it No. 1
- Price—Just 8 percent ranked it first
- Service/speed/support received no first place votes, but accumulated 16 percent of second place consideration, 44 percent of third place and 40 percent of fourth place
Most plant representatives said they purchase print cylinders and sleeves directly from the manufacturer, but several utilize multiple sources. Specifically:
- 92 percent go to a sleeve manufacturer
- 24 percent, a distributor
- 16 percent, an OEM machine (press) manufacturer
- 8 percent, an agent