What is Automatic Flexo Plate Mounting

Summary

The Flexo printing industry is facing challenges such as higher quality demands, shorter lead times, and more frequent short print jobs. These pressures affect the mounting department, leading to workflow issues and press downtime due to mounting mistakes. Automatic mounting machines, using image recognition technology, offer a solution by improving accuracy and efficiency. They can reduce operator dependency and eliminate mounting-related downtime. One example saw a company reduce press downtime and achieve ROI within six months by switching to automatic mounting. AV Flexologic also offers additional pre-press workflow optimization tools, including tape applicators and TIR systems.

Takeaways

• 📈 The Flexo industry is evolving with increasing demands for higher quality and faster lead times.
• ⏳ Shorter print job lead times and an increase in frequency of short print jobs are becoming common challenges.
• ⚙️ Mounting departments are facing workflow issues and press downtime due to mounting mistakes.
• 🎯 Automatic mounting helps operators achieve higher accuracy and speed compared to conventional methods.
• 🖥️ Automatic mounting machines use image recognition technology to position plates with an accuracy of 5 to 20 microns.
• 🚀 Fully automatic mounting machines handle most of the process after the operator loads the sleeve or cylinder, significantly reducing errors.
• 🔄 Semi-automatic mounting requires operators to roughly preposition the plate, but the machine assists in the final mounting process.
• 📉 A company reduced 15 to 20 hours of weekly press downtime and eliminated mounting-related downtime by switching to automatic mounting machines.
• 💸 The return on investment for automatic mounting machines can be achieved in as little as six months.
• 🌍 AV Flexologic offers additional equipment like tape applicators, demounters, and TIR systems to further optimize the pre-press workflow.

Q & A

What are the current trends in the Flexo printing industry?

The current trends in the Flexo printing industry include higher quality demands, shorter lead times on print jobs, and more frequent shorter print jobs.

How do these trends impact the mounting department in Flexo printing?

These trends demand more from the mounting department, leading to potential workflow issues and press downtime due to mounting mistakes, as operators need to mount with higher accuracy and speed.

What is Automatic Mounting in Flexo printing?

Automatic mounting uses image recognition technology to accurately position the plate on the sleeve or cylinder. The machine automatically moves the plate to achieve a positioning accuracy of 5 to 20 microns.

How does fully automatic mounting work?

In fully automatic mounting, the operator loads the sleeve or cylinder into the machine, selects a specific job, and places the plate on the conveyor belt. The machine handles the rest of the process with high accuracy and speed.

What is the difference between fully automatic and semi-automatic mounting?

In fully automatic mounting, the machine handles the entire process after the plate is loaded. In semi-automatic mounting, the operator prepositions the plate roughly, and the machine takes over to complete the process.

What challenges did a printing company with six printing presses face before adopting automatic mounting?

The company faced operator dependency in the mounting department and press downtime caused by mounting mistakes.

How did the company benefit from replacing manual mounting machines with automatic ones?

By replacing three manual mounting machines with one fully automatic machine, the company reduced 15 to 20 hours of mounting-related downtime per week to zero and freed up valuable operator time. The return on investment was within six months.

What other equipment does AV Flexologic offer to optimize the pre-press workflow?

AV Flexologic offers tape applicators, demounters for easy tape and plate removal, plate making equipment, and TIR systems that measure the sleeve surface condition and roundness.

How does the TIR system help in the pre-press process?

The TIR system measures the condition of the sleeve's surface and roundness, ensuring optimal performance and preventing potential issues during printing.

Why is AV Flexologic considered a trusted partner in the Flexo printing industry?

AV Flexologic has a global presence through its offices and partners, providing reliable support and solutions to help businesses counter the challenges in Flexo printing.