High Speed 8 Colour Rotogravure Printing Machine br br The rotogravure process is a direct transfer method for printing onto wood-pulp fiber based, synthetic, or laminated substrates, including: br • Films such as polyester, OPP, nylon, and PE br • Papers br • Carton board br • Aluminum foil br The modern day rotogravure printing press uses a printing cylinder which has been laser engraved with minute cells capable of retaining ink, the size and pattern of which reflect the required image. These cells are forced to transfer their ink directly onto the substrate by a combination of pressure and capillary action, so producing the printed image. br The process, also commonly called gravure printing, is used in the manufacturing of food and non-food packaging, as well as labels, wall coverings, transfer printing, and has a variety of further applications in the security printing, industrial, and tobacco segments of industry. br Rotogravure printing presses br The layout of a gravure printing press follows an in-line arrangement where the required number of printing units is installed along a horizontal plane. In a conventional gravure printing press, each unit comprises of: br • Printing cylinder: a seamless tubular sleeve or full cylinder, made from either steel, aluminum, plastic, or composite material, which is engraved with the image to be printed br • Doctor blade: the device that removes ink from the non-engraved portions of the printing cylinder and also removes excess ink from the engraved sections br • Impression roller: a rubber covered sleeve that is mounted on a steel mandrel. Its primary purpose is to press the substrate against the printing cylinder br • Inking system: consisting of an ink pan, ink holding tank, and ink pump with supply and return ink pipes br • Drying system: consisting of a chamber which dries the ink once it is on the substrate and prior to it reaching the next printing unit.