Laser System Eases Gravure Cylinders Production

The new Cellaxy laser process from Hell is making the production of impression cylinders easier during beta testing of the system.

With Hell's Cellaxy laser process a cylinder coated with a chromium layer is imaged directly using a high-performance laser.

A resolution of 2,500 dots per inch makes it possible to create ultra-fine details for line cut and fonts, commented Hell and the system provides an alternative to existing etching procedures.

GRT, which produces gravure forms for the packaging markets around the world, is continuing its beta tests of Hell's direct laser system.

The company offers a range of options for the production of gravure cylinders.

Although cylinders can be manufactured on a Think line, most of the production uses traditional engraving systems with two K500 systems.

Under the management of managing director Alex Goerz and senior partner Horst Goerz, GRT has invested EUR1.7 million in renovating and expanding its site in Hamm (Germany), which began to manufacture gravure cylinders in June.

A workforce of 30 is now employed at the location.

Horst Goerz said he is impressed by the fact that all it only takes is a few steps to create highest-quality printing forms.

He commented: "A chromium-plated cylinder is lasered and polished and can then be printed - it really doesn't get any easier than that.

I've wanted a process like this for a long time." Dr Rudolf Weidlich is responsible for developing new systems and at GRT and he is the project manager for the new Hell technology.

He was able to produce cylinders lasered using Cellaxy to a variety of printshops after a short start-up phase.

Hell said that its close cooperation with GRT during the development of Cellaxy has already enabled significant progress to be made with Cellaxy's development.

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