What Are Printing Cylinders?
Per DIN 2391 and EN 10305-1, printing cylinder tubes are premium seamless steel shells that serve as the base core for rotogravure and flexographic printing. They must be perfectly cylindrical and free of metallurgical defects per ISO 3304 to ensure flawless print reproduction. Our inventory features tubes with exceptional concentricity to minimize balancing and machining times for engravers.
- Zero weld-seam to ensure uninterrupted, vibration-free rotation
- High geometric accuracy and exceptional concentricity
- Optimized surface quality for copper/chrome plating
- Custom wall thicknesses to balance weight and rigidity
Specifications We Stock
| Outer Diameter (OD) | 100mm to 400mm |
|---|---|
| Wall Thickness (WT) | 8mm to 25mm |
| Grades | Carbon Steel (St 35, St 52, SAE 1020) |
| Lengths | Typically cut to exact machine width dimensions |
| Finish | Turned or as-drawn seamless |
Common Applications
- Flexible Packaging: Rotogravure cylinders for printing on plastics and foils.
- Paper & Publishing: High-speed magazine and newsprint rollers.
- Textile & Decorative: Embossing and wallpaper printing cylinders.
- Labels: Narrow-web flexographic printing bases.
Source Mills We Work With
We procure materials exclusively from highly reputed Indian and global steel mills, including:
Maharashtra Seamless Limited (MSL)ISMT LimitedImported European Mills
How To Order
- Specify the required Outer Diameter and Wall Thickness based on press specifications.
- Indicate exact cut lengths to minimize your machining waste.
- Inform us of any specific concentricity or straightness tolerances required.
- Confirm order quantity to arrange for specialized, dent-free transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why use seamless tubes instead of welded tubes for printing cylinders?
Welded tubes have a seam that creates a slight density and hardness variation, which can cause vibration (chatter) during high-speed rotation and lead to uneven engraving. Seamless tubes offer uniform density.
Are these tubes ready for immediate engraving?
No, these are base shell tubes. They require end-flange fitting, dynamic balancing, fine turning, and subsequent copper and chrome plating before engraving.
How do you prevent transit damage to these precision items?
Given their surface criticality, we use specialized dunnage and strapping during transport to ensure they arrive free of dents, deep scratches, or ovality issues caused by poor handling.
Related
- Calculate the weight of Printing Cylinders for your BOQ — size, wall, and length to MT before requesting a quote.
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