Faster throughput with adhesive tapes

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 17, 2002

Two new flexographic foam mounting tapes have been developed by leading technical tapes manufacturer, Scapa.

Two new flexographic foam mounting tapes have been developed by leading technical tapes manufacturer, Scapa.

Exafit 4348 and Exafit 4358 - designed for use on small diameter cylinders or with difficult-to-secure rigid/hard plates - offer exceptional adhesive performance.

The result is simple application, rapid repositioning and residue-free removability after use.

This accelerates throughput, with consequent process efficiencies and cost savings.

Designed for process, half tone and block printing, or a combination of these, the two new products accommodate demand for different thicknesses: Exafit 4348 is a 400um tape while Exafit 4358 is a 550um construction.

Both tapes benefit from a specially formulated high tack, graphic grade acrylic adhesive on the plate side which ensures the printing plate is fixed firmly to the cylinder throughout the print run.

This helps to guarantee that high print quality is maintained, even at high speeds and over several days.

Edge lifting is avoided and there is no need to use additional aids such as lacquer, liquid adhesive or other tapes.

A rubber resin adhesive on the cylinder side of both Exafit tapes provides a good bond to all common substrates including steel cylinders and different sleeve compounds.

The PE foam - which is designed to compensate for irregularities between the anilox roller and the cylinder or sleeve - is specially ground by Scapa in a process which preserves the foam structure.

By 'shaving' the foam to extremely tight tolerances, Scapa has developed a range of foam mounting tapes whose performance is setting new standards in flexographic printing.

Exafit 4348 and Exafit 4358 are high tack, high bond alternatives to Scapa's Exafit 4343/4354 foam tapes and complement a comprehensive range of mounting as well as lithograpic and finishing tapes for a wide variety of printing demands.

Scapa experts and specialist stockists are available to trial tapes in application and recommend the best solution.