UK-based Sandon Global Engraving has invested £600,000 in thermal plasma technology for the manufacture of its laser engraved anilox rolls and sleeves. The new plasma coating line at its facility in Runcorn, supplied by Sultzer Metco, has enabled the company to develop its own coating standard under the brand name T-Coat+.
The T-Coat+ system integrates robotic torch handling and roll rotation manipulation to rotate the roll at the correct surface speed and spray distance to apply the required coating. This is said to improve the quality of coatings by providing accurate and repeatable parameters, as well as increasing production rates through simple operator interface and set-up.
Sandon MD John Millington comments: "This installation will give us the edge on anilox roll consistency and give our customers the quality of print the end user expects. We can control the whole process and no longer have to out-source coating. All anilox roll production is statistically analysed to ensure laser engraving to the highest consistency and we have been able to shorten lead times as well as reduce inventory."
