What is an Anilox Roller? The Heart of Flexo Printing
In high-quality printing processes, each piece of tooling and equipment plays a unique role in determining the final output. However, when it comes to the heart of premium printing—whether in Flexographic Printing or Offset Printing, both widely used for producing product labels and packaging—two key elements stand out: UV lamps and the Anilox Roller. The latter is a critical component that drives precise ink control and ultimately defines print quality.
At Press Systems Group (PSG), the official distributor of Sandon Global in Thailand, we specialize in helping you select the right Anilox solution to elevate your print quality and production efficiency.
What is an Anilox Roller?
An Anilox Roller is a cylindrical roll or sleeve made of steel or aluminum, coated with a durable ceramic layer. Its surface is laser-engraved with millions of microscopic cells—tiny, precisely engineered cavities that regulate the amount of ink transferred during the printing process.
What is the function of an Anilox Roller?
The primary and most crucial function of an Anilox is to control the volume of ink transferred to the printing plate before the plate prints the image onto the substrate.
The process involves the following steps:
- Ink Reception: The Anilox picks up ink from either a doctor blade chamber or a rubber roll (or fountain roll) system within the ink tray. The ink flows into and fills the microscopic cells engraved on the ceramic surface of the roller.
- Wiping Excess Ink: A Doctor Blade wipes the excess ink from the surface of the roller, leaving ink only within the engraved cells.
- Ink Transfer: The Anilox Roller makes contact with the printing plate and transfers a precisely controlled amount of ink from its cells onto the image areas of the plate
Why is the Anilox Roller important for printing?
The Anilox is a critical component in printing, especially for the flexographic printing process, where it can be considered the heartbeat of the operation.
So, why is using an Anilox so important? Here is a simple explanation:
- Controls Ink Film Thickness: The volume of the cells on the anilox surface directly determines the amount of ink that will be printed onto the substrate. This affects the color density, print definition and the smoothness of solid printed areas.
- Determines Print Resolution: Selecting an Anilox with the appropriate line count (LPI – Lines Per Inch) to match the resolution of the printing plate and the image’s line work is crucial for achieving sharp, detailed prints, whether for small text or high-resolution halftone images.
- Creates Consistency and Stable Quality: Precise ink transfer helps reduce problems such as color variation, mottling, uneven ink laydown, or streaking in the print. This ensures that every piece produced meets the same high standard.
- Increases Production Efficiency: Proper ink control reduces ink consumption and the need for frequent clean-ups. It also allows the printing press to run at high speeds without sacrificing quality.
Sandon Global Anilox Roller
When speaking of a leading brand in Anilox trusted by customers worldwide, one name stands out: Sandon Global. Exporting to over 70 countries, the company has won the prestigious FIA UK Supplier of the Year award for multiple consecutive years, is certified with the ISO 9001 quality standard, and is committed to the continuous development of Anilox technology.
Sandon Global's Anilox Rollers for Narrow Web Applications
PROCESS & SOLID 60º
(FLUID HEX)
Designed for versatile and flexible printing applications. This anilox helps reduce issues like ink spitting and is suitable for printing both solid areas and process work with a single roller.
COMBINATION PRINT
(FLUID UV)
Engineered for superior printing performance. It is ideal for HD printing, delivering vibrant colors and precise ink control while helping to minimize dot gain.
TACTILE COATING
(GMX ANILOX®)
Specialized for tactile and textured surface printing, such as applying varnishes, adhesives, metallic inks, or special coatings. Its shallow cell structure helps reduce clogging, accommodates high-viscosity inks or coatings, and is easy to clean.
HIGH OPACITY WHITE
(HOW)
Developed for printing high-opacity whites as an alternative to screen printing. This roller helps reduce pin-holing and saves time on job changeovers.
Sandon Global's Anilox Rollers for Wide Web Applications
HIGH VOLUME PROCESS
(HVP)
For print jobs requiring a high volume of ink.
COMBINATION
(FLUID FP)
Designed for efficient ink flow and transfer.
CONVENTIONAL 60°
(CLASSIC)
Suitable for general-purpose printing applications.
HIGH DEFINITION PROCESS 61°
(XPRO)
For ultra-high-definition (Ultra-HD) graphics. It reduces issues like moiré and dot bridging, making it ideal for detailed graphic work.
TACTILE COATING
(GMX ANILOX®)
Specialized for tactile and textured surface printing, such as applying varnishes, adhesives, metallic inks, or special coatings. Its shallow cell structure helps reduce clogging, accommodates high-viscosity inks or coatings, and is easy to clean.
Why Choose an Anilox Roller from Sandon Global?
The Anilox is a critical component for high-quality printing. Here are the reasons why you should choose an Anilox roller from Sandon Global:
- Advanced Technology Sandon Global continuously invests in research and development to create increasingly precise Anilox cell designs. Many of our products are specifically engineered for specialized applications, allowing for highly efficient and adaptable use. Every roller is manufactured using advanced laser engraving systems and micro-finishing techniques to ensure micron-level precision and optimal ink transfer.
- Superior Print Quality Achieve higher-definition prints and reduce common printing defects. Our anilox deliver exceptional sharpness and vibrant colors while effectively minimizing dot gain and pin-holing in both process and solid print work.
- Durability and Extended Lifespan Engineered for longevity, our anilox feature a high-grade ceramic structure with a hardness of 1200–1500 Vickers.
- Guaranteed by Numerous Awards Our reputation is confirmed by multiple prestigious awards, including winning the FIAUK Supplier of the Year for several consecutive years. This solidifies our position as a leading brand in both the Flexo Narrow Web and Wide Web printing markets.
- Resilient Plasma Coating The advanced plasma coating applied to our Anilox is engineered to be exceptionally durable, preventing common issues such as blistering, ensuring consistent performance and reliability. Our on-site metallurgical laboratory ensures the highest quality ceramic coating is achieved consistently for all anilox produced.
Press Systems Group: The Official Representative of Sandon Global in Thailand
Let PSG help you find the perfect Anilox solution for your business. With high-quality equipment and modern technology, we can enhance the efficiency and quality of all your printing processes.
Address: 3030 Moo 10, Samrong Nuea, Muang Samutprakan, Samutprakan, Thailand 10270
Phone: +66 (0) 2 118 3852
Mobile: +66 (0) 61 789 4744
Email: info@presssystems.co.th
LINE: @presssystemsgroup