Sleeve technology

Sleeve technology has been used to an increasing ex­tent in a wide range of graphic and technical applica­tions during the past several years. The technology offers a number of advantages: - Elastomer roller coverings can be changed quickly. - Different working widths/offset dimensions can be realized on a single core. - Fewer additional cores are needed for a given press (lower investment costs). - Low sleeve weight facilitates handling. - Only sleeves are transported; metal mandrels and rollers remain in place. - Storage of covered press roller cores is no longer necessary. - Less warehouse space is required, as sleeves can be stored vertically.

Air mandrel dimensions

- Stork system for flexo sleeves (cylindrical system, gradations in outside diameter are oriented indirectly to repeat lengths (sleeve circumference)) - Speedwell system (SHM) (conical system, both the outside diameter of the mandrel and the taper angle are standardized)

Product information

Use the following link to download product information on the various Böttcher sleeve types. Download product information

Applications in the printing industry

- printing forms in flexo printing (laser-engraved, rubberized sleeve bases) - in web offset presses with sleeve technology - impression roller sleeves in rotogravure printing (conventional and electrostatic printing assist (ESA))

Industrial sleeve applications

- varnishing rollers in the aluminum industry - coating rollers in the wood-processing industry - for laminating, siliconizing and coating in foil and paper processing

Electrical properties of sleeves

Depending on the sleeve specification, the following characteristics are possible: - conductive sleeve bases (antistatic) - non-conductive base sleeves - conductive elastomer coverings (antistatic) - semi-conductive elastomer coverings (ESA applications in rotogravure) - non-conductive elastomer coverings

Chemical properties of sleeves

In flexography: - elastomer covered sleeves for water-based inks - elastomer covered sleeves for solvant based inks Other applications: - NBR compounds resistant to oil, petrole etc. - EPDM compounds resistant to ester and ketones - silicone compounds - and many special compounds more.