Seals and blades attuned to the environment of corrugated board production
Post printing of corrugated sheets is exclusively done with water-based inks. Depending on whether end seals and doctor blades are used in an inline printing unit or on a special post printer, they are exposed to different levels of mechanical stress.
They should therefore offer high resistance to water-based inks and corresponding cleaners. End seals need to show high dimensional stability. The choice of doctor blades depends on the printing application requirements. This may be high-quality print images or long-lasting doctor blades from plastic for increased work safety. Â
Corrugated board presses or converting lines for which we supply compatible high-performance end seals and doctor blades for the printing units include for example Bobst (incl. former Martin FFG), Emba, Göpfert, Dong Fang and much more. AGSflexo seals and blades qualify as alternative to the OEM parts.
Performance boost for (inline) printing units
Well-matched doctor blades and end seals keep up with the demanding process of corrugated board production and make sure that the printing part in the press goes smoothly and with efficient use of resources. Ultimate benefits include:
Best practice end seals for corrugated
For easy applications
coatSEAL LD40
coatSEAL LD40 end seals are made of flexible and easy to handle foam. The material shows good resistance against water-based printing inks and cleaning agents used in corrugated printing.
LD40 end seals run best at moderate printing speeds, when the mechanical wear on the seal is not too heavy.
They are also an economic choice for inline flexo printing units, for example in flexo folder gluers (FFG).
For ultimate lifetime
coatSEAL Universal
coatSEAL Universal molded rubber end seals are made for high demands of designated flexo post printing presses, ensuring a reliable sealing effect and long service life.
Even with high printing speeds and increased impact in the printing deck related to thick printing plates and the uneven surface of a corrugated board, they reliably keep the ink inside the chamber system thanks to their high stability and enhanced restoring force.
coatSEAL Universal end seals are made out of different rubber types, so that we can accommodate special print settings, e.g. when harsh cleaners for water-based inks are used.
Dream team end seals and lubrication grease
The use of lubrication grease does not only facilitate the installation of the end seal in corrugated printing decks. It also helps to increase the seal's performance and lifetime.Â
Plus, cleaning the end seal area gets easier, because the grease has a repelling effect on the water-based ink, which reduces the danger of ink drying up in the end seal area.
AGSflexo lubrication greases comes in handy tubes, which are easy and clean to use. Our video tutorial shows you how to make maximum use of it.
Best practice doctor blades for corrugated
For extra work-safety at large widths
polyBLADE U
polyBLADE U doctor blades from long-lasting UHMW are made for mastering mechanical stress and large-volume anilox roller screens in corrugated post print.
In many corrugated post printers or inline flexo printing units on corrugated production lines, UHMW doctor blades are the standard.
Especially with large printing widths beyond 2 meters, handling doctor blades can be a tricky matter. With polyBLADE U doctor blades, the risk of cutting injuries is significantly lower than with steel blades.
For water-based inks
steelBLADE S
steelBLADE S stainless steel doctor blades are corrosion-resistant and therefore ideal for applying water-based printing inks, which are standard in corrugated printing.
While showing the necessary stability to produce high-quality graphics on corrugated board, the fine steel alloy is smooth towards the anilox roller, preventing excess or uneven wear.
For white and metallic inks
steelBLADE T
steelBLADE T tool steel doctor blades are a good choice when white inks are printed on corrugated board.
The special hardened alloy is very wear-resistant against the rough ink pigments and is at the same time flexible enough to scrape smoothly on the anilox roller, ensuring accurate ink transfer and optimized service life.
For leak-proof sealing
polyBLADE S
polyBLADE S plastic blades are intended for use as containment blades to effectively keep the ink inside the chamber doctor blade system in corrugated flexo printing decks.
The flexible blade material prevents leakage from back-doctoring thanks to optimum blade contact with the anilox roller.
polyBLADE S blades offer a very good service life and are a cost-efficient alternative to sealing blades from steel.
Safety first: Use protective gloves for handling doctor blades
Handling doctor blades can be a tricky matter, especially with large printing widths beyond 2 meters (~80 inches), which are common in corrugated printing. Used doctor blades get very sharp after use, steel blades more than plastic blades.Â
To reduce the risk of cutting injuries, we recommend to always wear protective gloves when handling doctor blades and end seals in the chamber doctor blade system, be it during installation, cleaning or other service work.