Storage System Protects Anilox And Plate Sleeves

A Harper Corporation of America product story

Edited by the Printingtalk editorial team May 21, 2007

Sleevewrak Double-Decker Rack, is a two-tiered vertical storage unit for narrow web anilox or plate sleeves up to 30" long that has just been introduced by Harperscientific.

Harperscientific said it developed the Sleevewrak Double-Decker Rack to minimise sleeve damage, accommodate both anilox and plate sleeves and maximise storage convenience.

In addition to the flexibility of storing anilox and plate sleeves, each rack, which comes standard with 32 pairs of adjustable guides, can accommodate up to 50 narrow web anilox or plate sleeves with the addition of further guides, said the company.

The rack's adjustable guides can be moved along a built-in track, which allows for the storage of any 'repeat' of plate sleeves.

The bottom guide assemblies are designed with universality in mind, so each storage station accommodates either an anilox or plate sleeve.

Anilox sleeves rest around the lower, larger diameter of the guide and the smaller round guide that sits atop it accommodates a plate cylinder, added Harperscientific.

The Sleevewrak Double-Decker Rack is designed for loading from either side of the unit.

Whilst holding the sleeve vertically, users tilt the top of the sleeve in to the rack and lift it so the upper guide slips in to the bore of the sleeve.

Once the bottom of the sleeve is high enough to clear the bottom guide, the sleeve needs to be centred over the bottom guide and lower until it rests flat.

The Sleevewrak Double-Decker Rack is available exclusively through HarperScientific Tony Donato, process and product development engineer at Harper Corporation, said: "Each sleeve is held in position by a pair of specially designed guides and stored vertically, which minimises compression of the expansion layer of the sleeve.

The rack also features a built-in rubber belt that supports the bottom end of the sleeve and keeps the ends from becoming damaged or chipped.

Heavy-duty casters mean that the sleeve inventory can be moved over to the press quickly and easily.".