Impressively sustainable: The versatile and durable elastomer printing forms from Saueressig
Elastomer printing forms for sustainable printing – a important innovation. But what is behind it? What qualities characterise elastomer printing plates? And how can sustainable production be achieved? At Saueressig, we have the answers and support our customers in enhancing their products with outstanding printing – thanks to our elastomer sleeves and plates.
The versatility of Saueressig elastomer printing forms enables their use in diverse industries. Whether in flexible packaging production, for gift wrap designs, in hygiene or tissue production or for technical applications – our elastomers, consisting of a wide range of materials including compounds such as EPDM, SBR and NBR with hardness grades from 50 to 90 Shore A, are used in many different areas. HD laser engraving achieves detailed sharpness and outstanding print quality with an impressive resolution of up to 80 lcpm. This means that even sophisticated patterns and designs can be precisely implemented – for an effective impression.
Sustainability is a guiding principle at Saueressig in the production of HD sleeves and HD elastomer sheets. Our solvent-free manufacturing process is not only environmentally friendly, but also more energy-efficient than conventional CO2 laser engraving thanks to innovative fibre laser technology. The remarkable durability of Saueressig’s elastomer sleeves and plates allows them to last four times longer than conventional polymer plates. The use of undercuts (lowering of the highlights) not only reduces dot gain, but also spares the finest screen dots, which in turn extends the service life of the elastomer sleeves. The elastomer printing tools are also highly resistant to solvents, which prevents the plates from swelling.
The smooth running of the sleeves enables faster production speeds, while the elimination of plate mounting reduces makeready costs. In addition, the Saueressig Express line offers a resource-saving way to make sleeves reusable and reduce costs. Worn sleeves are ground down to smaller sizes, allowing one sleeve to be used for multiple print jobs. Ink transfer is also optimised by increasing the surface roughness of the sanding pattern. In some cases, even a finer anilox roller can be used, further reducing ink consumption.
Saueressig elastomer sleeves and plates therefore offer an intelligent combination of flexibility, durability and environmental friendliness. These outstanding properties make them an indispensable tool for printing companies and other industries that strive for the highest quality and efficiency when printing their products.
