Seals and blades attuned to the print environment of label production
In label printing, the demands on print quality on a wide variety of substrates are particularly high. The use of UV inks is common practice. Although printing speeds tend to be moderate, UV inks have a rather abrasive effect on the end seals and their relatively high viscosity puts increased pressure on the doctor blade. Typically, everyday printing is characterized by short runs and many job changes with the associated ink changes.
End seals therefore need to offer high sealing efficiency with good wear-resistance and a price level that makes sense for frequent changes. Doctor blades need to be strong yet precise enough at the blade tip to ensure crisp label graphics without ink-spitting issues.
Label press brands for which we produce compatible high-performance end seals and doctor blades include for example Gallus, Nilpeter, Mark Andy, Omet, Codimag and much more. AGSflexo products qualify as alternative to the machine manufacturer's parts.
Performance boost for label flexo printing units
Well-matched doctor blades and end seals make the performance of flexographic printing units in label presses more resource-efficient and contribute to a smooth printing process. We make our end seals from technical foam or impregnated felt types, that are specially adapted to the narrow web and label printing environment. Doctor blades are made of precisely machined steel and plastic types.
With a good end seal & doctor blade setup, you can achieve:
Best practice end seals for labels and narrow web printing
For frequent job changes and short print runs
coatSEAL LD40
coatSEAL LD40 foam end seals adapt well to the ink chamber outlines and are easy to install. They are suitable for use with standard UV inks and varnishes in label and narrow-web printing. They can also handle water-based ink setups.
LD40 end seals perform optimally at typical printing speeds up to 80 m/min, which involve moderate mechanical stress from the rotating anilox roller and the ink pigments.
They are the most economic choice for frequent job and/or ink changes, when the end seals are changed with every job setup.
For extra durability in demanding print jobs
coatSEAL Flexi NW
coatSEAL Flexi NW end seals are our premium seals for more demanding printing applications in label and narrow web, e.g. when special inks with abrasive pigments are used or at elevated printing speeds.
Flexi NW end seals are perfectly attuned to use with UV inks, but also work very well with other ink and coating types.
The stable white foam reliably seals the chamber at label printing speeds even beyond 100 m/min.
For an extra ink-repelling sealing effect
coatSEAL Longlife
coatSEAL Longlife end seals offer a reliable and durable sealing effect in narrow-web packaging printing, both with UV and water-borne inks.
They are made of pre-soaked technical felt. The food-safe and ink-repelling impregnation improves the sealing efficiency and lifetime of the seal. At the same time, the ink-repelling effect reduces the amount of cleaning required in the sealing area.
To get the most out of coatSEAL Longlife impregnated felt end seals, they need to be installed carefully - our video tutorial guides you through the process.
Best practice doctor blades for labels and narrow web printing
For UV inks and coatings
steelBLADE C
steelBLADE C carbon steel doctor blades are the most commonly used blade in high-quality label and narrow web printing with UV inks.
Thanks to the fine microstructure of the steel, these blades offer an accurate ink transfer and continuous doctoring results throughout their service life.
We recommend using a lamella profile for the active doctor blade and a round tip profile for use as sealing blade to achieve the most favorable price-performance ratio.
Remedy against ink spitting
steelBLADE CAS
steelBLADE CAS carbon steel doctor blades are specially made for clean label and narrow web printing with UV inks and are a great choice to overcome ink spitting issues.
The blade has a thicker base material, which makes it less sensitive to vibration. To make sure that the fine contact zone between blade tip and anilox roller remains for a precise ink wipe, we grind a special profile at the blade tip.
steelBLADE CAS doctor blades combine stability and flexibility for effective doctoring and high-quality print results.
For white and metallic inks
steelBLADE T
steelBLADE T tool steel doctor blades are suitable for abrasive UV inks and coatings.
White or metallic inks contain rather rough particles. The special hardened steel alloy of the steelBLADE T blade can withstand the abrasive effect of the ink better than carbon steel.
Accordingly, they offer a longer service life, while being smooth towards the anilox roller.
For extra durability and safe handling
polyBLADE U
polyBLADE U plastic doctor blades are made of durable UHMW with pronounced wear resistance against UV inks and coatings.
Plastic has a different material elasticity than steel, being less sensitive to vibration. They are a durable and safe-to-handle option to prevent ink-spitting in UV label printing. They are ideal for use with simple graphics and full-surface printing or coating.
For extra stability and safe handling
polyBLADE P
polyBLADE P doctor blades are made of a rigid thermoplastic that gives a thorough ink wipe and is extra wear-resistant against both UV and water-based inks and coatings.
If the print job is not too sophisticated, these plastic doctor blades are a feasible alternative to steel blades, with the additional benefit of less risk of cutting injuries, because the blade tip of a used plastic blade does not get as sharp as steel.
Have you ever considered buying pre-cut blades to save time during set-up?
Cutting doctor blades to set up the press can be a time-consuming job, especially when you have several label presses with 6 or more flexo printing decks. To save you time in the print job preparation, you can get doctor blades from us ready-cut to your desired length.
Positive side-effect: You reduce waste and can therefore use 100% of the purchased material effectively.