Comparison of Ultrasonic and Laser Cleaning of Anilox Rolls
We compared two deep-cleaning methods using two anilox rolls:
Roll No. Z23293: 360 lpcm, cell volume 4.2 cm³/m², Cyan ink.
Roll No. Z35671: 220 lpcm, cell volume 7.0 cm³/m², Pantone 072 ink.
Both rolls had undergone regular cleaning throughout their service life.
The comparison was performed as follows:
- Each roll was first cleaned ultrasonically.
- One half of each roll was then additionally laser-cleaned.
- 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. Roll 360 lpcm, 4.2 cm³/m² Ink viscosity: 23 seconds. Printing speed: 220 m/min. Substrate: 15 µm BOPP.
Evaluation method
Ink film weight (dry), g/m²
Optical density
Ultrasonic cleaning
0.2
2.58
Laser cleaning after ultrasonic cleaning
0.4
2.68
Difference
+0.2
+0.10
Before and after measurement No. 2
Pantone 072 ink. Roll 220 lpcm, 7.0 cm³/m² Ink viscosity: 23 seconds. Printing speed: 220 m/min. Substrate: 15 µm BOPP.
Evaluation method
Troika AniCAM measurement, cm³/m²
Optical density
Ultrasonic cleaning
6.3
0.17
Laser cleaning after ultrasonic cleaning
7.0
0.33
Difference
+0.7
+ 0.16
In both tests, additional LaserEcoClean cleaning improved the print results compared with ultrasonic cleaning alone. In Test No. 1, ink film weight increased from 0.2 to 0.4 g/m², while optical density rose from 2.58 to 2.68. In Test No. 2, the measured anilox cell volume increased from 6.3 to 7.0 cm³/m², and optical density rose from 0.17 to 0.33.