Trelleborg Shows next Generation
of Blanket Technology at Ipex 2010

Av Ratanaporn B. Jakobsen

Ipex 2010 visitors who want to learn how they can use the latest developments in offset blanket technology to increase the profitability of their presses, while having less impact on the environment, has found the answers on the stand of Trelleborg Printing Blankets.  

The company has shown blanket solutions for litho print sectors ranging from sheet-fed commercial, packaging, newspapers and commercial web offset (heatset and coldset) to specialist areas such as security printing and UV. Trelleborg is already one of the world's main manufacturers of offset blankets, with its Vulcan and Rollin brands being industry leaders in several areas around the globe. A recent major revamp of its product portfolio has resulted in the launch at Ipex 2010 of the 'neXt generation' of blanket solutions, which includes new products for the sheet-fed and web offset sectors along with upgrades to existing lines.

"We've examined in detail every aspect of the blanket, from the materials, chemicals and energy required during manufacture, to how blankets are packaged and transported and what characteristics the final product offers to the printer," says Dario Porta, managing director of Trelleborg Printing Blankets.

"Blankets must provide more than good dot reproduction and paper release etc and particularly when used on shaftless or wider width presses the blanket can have a big impact on energy consumption. In some cases fitting a different blanket can reduce energy costs on a web offset press by as much as 20 per cent."

However, blankets are not the only products made by the company and flexographic printers visiting Ipex can learn about the latest offerings within the Trelleborg Axcyl flexo sleeve range. Trelleborg is also involved in the digital print sector and supplies blankets for HP Indigo presses.

New Vulcan Quickstart
The recently launched Vulcan Quickstart incorporates a polyurethane-based backing that eliminates the need for underpacking on the cylinder and provides unrivalled smash resistance and durability. Initially aimed at users of Heidelberg

Speedmasters, a version suitable for use with Mitsubishi presses is being launched at Ipex and the range will be extended to include other press manufacturers later in the year.

Vulcan Quickstart represents a huge step forward in blanket technology that results in several significant productivity, cost and quality benefits to the printer.

The specially-constructed integral backing means the blanket can be applied to the cylinder much faster than normal.

The underpacking offers a high resistance to the chemicals used in normal blanket washes etc, eliminating the risk of delamination, while there is no need to purchase and store separate underpacking. Vulcan Quickstart provides excellent ink transfer and dot gain properties across a wide range of stock types and weights, whether using conventional or UV inks.

New Vulcan Metal News Progress
Ipex 2010 is the launch pad for Vulcan Metal News Progress, a metal-backed blanket for the newspaper industry, which offers extremely easy mounting with neutral paper feeding. The blanket was developed in close cooperation with leading newspaper printers so ensure that the final result meets exactly the

requirements of the newspaper industry. Vulcan Metal News Progress, which has a micro-buffed blue surface, provides excellent smash resistance and energy savings. It can be supplied with either Active underpacking or normal underpacking. Also being shown on the stand is Vulcan Metal Green, a metal-backed blanket for heatset web offset presses that provides exceptional smash resistance and durability plus good print quality.

New Rollin Print-X
The new Rollin Print-X blanket has been designed to provide the commercial sheet-fed printer with exceptional smash absorption and recovery properties, allowing higher press productivity and subsequent cost reductions. Print-X is available for any size of sheet-fed press and has a micro-ground and polished surface that enables good overall print quality to be achieved across a variety of stocks.

New Rollin LibiX
The new Rollin LibiX blanket is aimed at the commercial sheet-fed and packaging markets and can be used with conventional inks and most UV inks. The blanket incorporates a solvent-free carcass. The combination of a thick compressible layer plus a compressible polymer bottom layer results in exceptional resistance to smashes, while the mechanically strong top compound ensures excellent release properties. The surface is ground and buffed to very fine tolerances, resulting in first class print quality and in particular good dense solids.

New Rollin STX206
Trelleborg has developed a blanket that is suitable for the newspaper, commercial web and high-quality sheet-fed markets with the creation of STX206. The blanket has a solvent-free carcass and the surface is ground and buffed so that the press operator can more easily create excellent halftones and solids.

The neutral feed characteristics of STX206 contribute to stable web tension through the printing units, with a corresponding reduction in the risk of web

breaks. The highly resilient compressible layer helps the blanket to return to its original shape after a smash, thus helping to maintain print quality and productivity, even at high speeds. The bottom, polymer layer of STX206 has been designed to resist moisture ingress and blanket gapping/lateral movement.

Other Rollin additions
Other Rollin blankets for the newspaper sector include the neutral feed blanket Polycell, which has a 3-ply compressible layer that makes it extremely easy to mount, quick to clean and provides a fast rebound after the nip squeeze, enabling high ink pick-up, dense solids and good transfer.

Graffity is a positive feed 3-ply blanket that incorporates a thick compressible layer and a highly stable carcass. The surface formulation and finish guarantee good solid coverage as well as excellent tone reproduction at maximum press speed, while the foam technology ensures long blanket life. The Rollin blanket Hi-Page offers slightly positive feeding and is designed for large pagination presses. It features a specially ground surface, which results in consistent high print quality and durability. The new 1.96 mm Rollin Folder provides neutral feeding on coldset presses.

Axcyl flexo sleeves
Trelleborg is a key supplier to the flexographic market via its subsidiary Axcyl Composite SAS, which manufactures a range of industry-leading flexo sleeves at its French factory in Mirambeau. Axcyl has been designing and making sleeves for mounting flexo plates for more than 15 years, and its patented honey comb technology, multi-layer winding process and specially developed cutting guide and edge protection systems ensure that sleeves are extremely stiff and stable.

Axcyl's portfolio includes bridge sleeves, which are available with a separate air supply and internal ventilation for top sleeve mounting, plus repeat build-up sleeves, which can be supplied with Axcyl's patented cutting guide. The range also incorporates thin sleeves for plate mounting. The combination of materials and the way in which they are used, results in light and stable sleeves that offer good vibration filtration and easy mounting/removal from the air cylinder. All Axcyl sleeves are available with antistatic properties.