The market research of packing producers is showing, that the quality of flexographic
printing has big influence on the customers. When the printer put the tape on
the cylinder or the printing form (plate) on the mounting tape, the air bubbles
can appear between the cylinder and tape, and between the plate and tape. It can
decrease the quality of flexographic printing and productivity of printing process.
The experts of 3M have a solution for this problem – Exclusive liner that prevents
air entrapment by forming guard microchannels in the adhesive. Crosshatched pattern
crates permanent network of microchannels that help for completely equal adhesive
for both sides of tape. Thanks to that, when the printer base the tape on cylinder
or the printing form on the tape it’s very easy to chase out the air and to achieve
homogeneous adhesive on the whole tape surface.
With the new guard layer is achieve:
• Reduce time for printing preparation
• Increase the printing quality of halftones and prevent the dot
gain
• Increase work time without stops, thanks to the similar
adhesion on whole tape surface.
• When the job is finished, the plate will remove cleanly from
the tape and than the tape from the cylinder.
Microscopic View of Adhesive Surface
Pebbled
Flat
Microchannel
Enlarged View Under Plate Floor
Pebbled
Flat
Microchannel
The Flexographic Mounting Tapes that Synthesia Ltd. keeps in the warehouse are
with tickness 0,55mm and 0,38mm.
Mounting tape selection
11 Series
19 Series
10 Series
17 Series
18 Series
11 Series
For the finest dots, with minimum dot gain and the sharpest process image, a low-density peach-coloured foam gives controlled ink transfer at high running
speeds. Combining this with a thin but strong film layer gives a product with
excellent handling. The tape can be laid smoothly and easily. The plate can be
positioned, adjusted and repositioned if required. The plate side adhesive is
strong enough to hold the plate stable through a long production run. When the
job is finished, the plate will remove cleanly from the tape, and then the tape
from the cylinder or sleeve.
Tape colour : Peach.
19 Series
When process and highlight half tones are combined with fine lines or small solid
areas on the same plate, then a little more density is required to make the clean lines, and transfer
sufficient ink, without significant added dot gain. The same plate and cylinder
side adhesives as the 11 Series gives the same controlled handling, but the foam
is shaded pink for easy identification by the plate mounter. After printing, the
cylinder with the plate in position can be removed, the plate cleaned of ink,
and then placed in storage as a unit; the bond will be fully functional for further
runs.
Tape colour : Pink.
10 Series
When line, solid and half tones are mixed on the plate, then the standard medium density foam gives the best results in all areas.
The sheer flexibility of this white foam is combined with a wide range of foam
thickness, and choice of adhesive on
the plate side. “M” series adhesive has lower plate side adhesion for thin plates,
or for plates with large solid areas, to make plate removal easier after the run.
For the contract printer looking for an all-purpose foam for any job that comes
into the shop, 10M foam tapes are the standard to compare all others against.
Tape colour : White.
17 Series
When line, solids and opaque background colour runs at the highest machine speeds, then the extra resilience in new 17 Series helps to reduce bounce on the press,
prints cleaner fine-type reverses, yet still delivers rich half-tones if required.
With "M" series plate side adhesive for ease of plate placement and removal, and
a distinctive Teal green foam colour for clear identification, this is another
excellent choice for the contract printer.
Tape Colour : Teal.
18 Series
For line, solids, and opaque white background colour, the higher density foam in this series sets a new standard of technical excellence.
Replacing an earlier generation of elastomeric foams, this series runs very fast
with minimum bounce, and lays down a solid ink coat with almost no pinholing.
The blue foam stands out to the mounter, and the “M” series plate side adhesive
maintains removability even after the longest print run. For transferring ink,
and lots of it, or a finishing varnish layer, this is the tape to use.
Tape colour : Blue.
NOTE: Printed samples above show the impact of mounting tapes on print quality. Firmer
tapes generally give better solid ink coverag e while softer tapes provide better
dot and edge reproduction.
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