Think Laser System in Gravure Market For the NEXT STAGE! Think Laboratory 2005/11/14
Topic Gravure Cylinder Making System with LaserStream-FX Use of Water Based Ink Insoluble Anode Copper Plating Alternative Chrome Plating
Gravure Cylinder Making System with LaserStream-FX LaserStream-FX has been installed more than 30 sets so far since year 2000 and automation has become standardized By using Robot Automation, we could establish number of advantages, such as Cost performance, Delivery time, Quality Patent No. : US 6,911,300 B2 Process from coating a cylinder to developing its cylinder
Outline of FX-80 System FX-80 is operated with one operator during days and nights are operated with automated robot system which produces 80 cylinders in one day Chemicals at galvanic line are automatically analyzed such as Developing, Etching, Copper plating, and Chrome Plating to have stable condition all the time. Home Made chemicals like thermal resist helped to reduce the price of a cylinder to make
Use of Water Based Ink Friendly to the earth and workers compared with solvent ink. Shallower cell depth and higher resolution are the basic setting for use of water based ink. One of the printing company, Chukyokagaku made a color chip, total of 1,275 color, just with five process color.
Company Bourbon They have announced in their 2005 Bourbon Environmental Activity Report that they are shifting using water based ink starting their famous biscuit series
Comparison LaserStream-FX and Mechanical Engraving Mechanical Engraving with solvent ink LaserStream-FX with water based ink
Comparison LaserStream-FX and Mechanical Engraving Mechanical Engraving with water based ink LaserStream-FX with water based ink
Insoluble Anode Copper Plating From ordinary style of copper plating with nuggets to use of powder Copper Oxide No need to stop the automated line Better quality on the surface of cylinder Lower cost to make copper plate per cylinder Easy attachment for automating refill unit
Insoluble Anode Copper Plating
Insoluble Anode Copper Plating Automatic Analyzing System When Automatic Analyzing System sends signal, this system doses appropriate quantity to Copper plating unit less waste water treatment less operator work
Insoluble Anode Copper Plating advantage of moving anodes to cylinder less time needed to plate Density Time ordinary new method 18A/dm 20 min 30A/dm 12 min less electric power needed cylinder size Density ordinary 1100 600 18A/dm 2 new method 1100 600 18A/dm 2 voltage 10V 6V saving 400,000kW per month in Japan
Insoluble Anode Copper Plating By moving anodes to cylinder surface, much precise evenness Less grinding needed
Alternative Cr Plating patent pending Development started to search alternative chrome plating to avoid using solvent ink at printing and Hexavalent Chromium at plating with company Geomatech in Japan Process of DLC ( Diamond-Like Carbon ) Cylinder in the vacuum chamber Plasma Sputtering
Characteristics of DLC Hardness reached from 2,000 to 2,500HV patent pending Less coefficient of friction Longer cylinder-life No waste water treatment Able to aim Higher Resolution
33% more volume can be expected due to thin layer of DLC 8µm cell depth should be enough for water based ink less energy needed to dry printed surface during printing
10% improvement can be expected due to thin layer of DLC less energy needed to dry printed surface during printing
1/5 coefficient of friction which can improve during printing working with water based ink or high solid ink
Possibility with DLC Improve both for working and natural environment Improve on printing with water based ink New possible market with higher resolution cylinder
We, Think Laboratory from Japan as one of the RotoGravure Machinery Supplier We think Gravure can improve and should improve to save our loving earth think@think-lab.co.jp