Troika to push sphere measurement standard

Troika Systems is pushing the use of spheres as an effective method for dimensional and volumetric (D&V) measurement of anilox, gravure and engraved coating rollers, and has welcomed the move by manufacturers of such products to adopt the standard.

When ordering aniloxs, lamination or coating cylinders to meet a specific volume for a desired ink release, variation in the volume carrying capacity of the rolls, sleeves or cylinders has been considerable due to the different measurement methods of individual manufacturers.

This was clearly identified by research undertaken by Troika in 2007, where 15 different anilox manufacturers in Europe and North America measured a 12 banded roll with their own measurement systems. The published findings showed a 28-141 percent variation in measurement readings.

Troika said a sphere of a known size is a valid reference standard for dimensions and volume, so one that D&V measurement instruments can be calibrated to, with spheres already used as a method of calibration by some interferometer manufacturers. Spheres have recently been adopted as the calibration method for D&V measurement by electronic measurement systems in the print industry.

Troika itself has now adopted the sphere standard as its datum for D&V calibration with the use of a simple sphere tool for use with the three analysis applications of its AniCam system - Anilox QC, Gravure QC and FlexoPlate QC.

It said this means that when using AniCAM to check anilox rolls, gravure cylinders or flexo plates and sleeves for dimensional and volumetric measurements, the user will know they are working to an accurate, mathematically proven standard of measurement.

It added that anilox manufacturers have stated an intention to adopt a similar standard and integrate it into their systems, and it expects this mathematical method of standardizing anilox and gravure measurements to be adopted by the majority of industry leaders.

This will bring press set-up and ink adjustment time savings to flexo printers, it said, as well as further benefits to anilox engravers, ink and press manufacturers, laminating and coating companies, gravure printers and gravure engravers.

Troika will introduce the sphere standard as part of its presence at Labelexpo Europe 2013.

Phil Hall, managing director of Troika Systems, said: ‘It has been known for a long time that there has been no standard for calibrating D&V measurements, but the use of spheres is an accepted method in other industries.

‘We will introduce the standard to the market at Labelexpo Europe 2013, and our ultimate aim is to benefit printers, who are our customers. In the narrow web label industry, the standard should save an hour a day in press downtime, and up to three hours in wide format markets. That is a big saving when you think about the running costs of presses.’

Read more on ancillary equipment here