Comparison of Ultrasonic and Laser Cleaning of an Anilox Roll
We compared two deep-cleaning methods. The test roll, No. Z23293, had a line count of 360 lpcm and a cell volume of 4.2 cm³/m². It had received all required routine cleaning throughout its service life. The comparison was performed as follows:
- The roll was first cleaned ultrasonically.
- One half of the roll was then cleaned by laser.
- Optical density was measured with a densitometer, and the applied ink weight was determined gravimetrically.
A solid was printed under identical press conditions, and 6–7 measurements were taken across the print area.
Ultrasonic cleaning
Laser cleaning
Before and after measurement No. 1
Cyan ink. Ink viscosity: 23 seconds. Printing speed: 220 m/min. Substrate: 15 µm BOPP.
Evaluation method
Ink weight gain
Optical density
Ultrasonic cleaning
0.2 g/m²
2,58
Laser cleaning after ultrasonic cleaning
0.4 g/m²
2,68
Difference
+0.2 g/m²
+0,10
Before and after measurement No. 2
Pantone 072 ink. Ink viscosity: 23 seconds. Printing speed: 220 m/min. Substrate: 15 µm BOPP.
Evaluation method
Troika AniCam measurement
Optical density
Ultrasonic cleaning
6.3 cm³/m²
0,17
Laser cleaning after ultrasonic cleaning
7.0 cm³/m²
0,33
Difference
+0.7 cm³/m²
+ 0,16
In both tests, the section additionally cleaned with LaserEcoClean technology produced better results than the section cleaned only ultrasonically.