FAQs
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What is the difference between silicone and silicone/EP blend?
Silicone is an inorganic material whose characteristics are excellent for applications requiring release, and/or use in a high temperature environment up to 500°F. Although it has superior release and temperature resistance, its physical properties doesn’t allow it to work in a conventional production atmosphere for long periods of time in comparison to other rubber materials. Standard atmosphere temperature is much cooler than silicone material prefers, creating the shorter life expectancy than your standard EPDM or BN materials for flexographic printing applications.
Silicone/EPDM (SIL/EP) – a blend of Silicone and EP materials used for strength when silicone is not strong enough. This material is tougher than silicone rubber, but not as tough as EPDM. Silicone/EPDM may be well suited for applications where silicone is just not quite tough enough, and there is room for compromise in release characteristics and temperature requirements.
Which countries do you ship to?
We ship our products worldwide! There are some exceptions to this. If you are not sure, please contact us directly and we will assist you to the best of our ability.*
*Note: International customers assume responsibility for all rubber components. Shipping damages are not covered by RollerTec. For all questions and concerns, please contact us.
Any general rules you have for printing?
We are glad you asked! We have "commandments" that we suggest to our customers:
The factory specified the engineering for a reason.
Practices that alter factory specs, like multiple re-engravings, will almost always result in substandard printing. If you are having significant problems, check to make sure the press is “in spec”. If not, start there.
Cultivate a good gear and bearing supplier
Used bearings and worn gears are often grief causers and money wasters.
If it is worth a new roller, it is worth a new bearing.
Shop for good bearing prices and replace at each roller change. A roller is only as good as its bearing.
Most value for the dollar.
When pulling a gear or bearing, put a penny over the center hole and save yourself some money per end to have them re-drilled. The center holes must be true to the journals!
A flexo press is only as good as the inking system
A new meter roller, a new anilox, new bearings and new gears are essentially a new press.
Cleanliness is next to profitability
It’s easier to keep something clean than to clean something that is overwhelmingly dirty. A clean shop will almost always be more profitable than a dirty one.
Water-based inks, latex paints, and concrete have something in common.
They all harden into an insoluble form that is murder on the flexo inking system. If it dries out before you fit it or clean it, you probably ruined it. In addition, large solids in water base inks tend to settle into a sludge that may eventually harden if left long enough. Keep things stirred or changed.
All anilox roll problems will eventually transfer to the meter roll.
The rubber meter/doctor roll is the most vulnerable part of the inking system. Any damage to the anilox will eventually transfer to the meter roll. Keep your ink clean. Always strain your into and out of an approved storage container. Old nylon stockings work well to strain, but organdy cloth works better. Chunks of dried ink on the anilox will destroy a rubber roller. A pan run dry will ruin both rubber and anilox. A little extra care saves a lot of cash and down time.
With Defoamer, more is not better.
Two drops are probably twice what you need. Most defoamers and all greases and oils are certain death to EPDM rubber compounds.
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right the first time!