In our proprietary ceramic coatings process we have purchased a large number of state-of-the-art systems as part of our continuous improvement program. As part of our quality control process, we spray sample coupons from every spray booth monthly and each coupon is evaluated for hardness, density, and porosity by an independent, certified laboratory.
The tracked results help us to maintain consistency, which is a top priority at Harper.
Harper was one of the first in the Flexographic industry to have an employee be a certified CTSO thermal spray specialist.
Please consult with your Harper team member for best cell recommendation for your application. Specialty and custom engravings available.
Learn more in this Harper anilox guide: Specifying the Right Anilox Roll
HEX
TRADITIONAL CHANNEL
QUAD
TRIHELICAL
KATRON™️
SPECIALTY R&D
Harper believes that product quality should be the primary consideration in choosing an anilox company. Your anilox should be selected to expand your printing options high-quality products and the resources to keep your company’s operation profitable and productive. Quality can be measured in many ways. Harper measures the following factors to ensure optimum quality of the anilox rolls you received:
TEST BURNS
Prior to engraving a roll, a test burn is performed at 1/8” from the deadband. The volume and cell profile are verified prior to engraving the entire roll, ensuring the consistency and repeatability of the engraving specifications.
HARDNESS
Harper’s ceramic coating has a hardness of 1100-1300 Vickers. Ceramic hardness above 1300 Vickers, changes the mechanical property of the coating, making the ceramic too hard and consequently brittle and susceptible to cracking under press operation pressure. A hardness of less than 1100 Vickers causes the ceramic to be soft. Our coating provides the hardest ceramic possible ensuring longevity and durability.
POROSITY
Maintaining a minimal amount of porosity is as important as maintaining the correct hardness. Our porosity averages 0.5% with and upper limit of 1%. Keeping porosity so low, allows us to maintain consistency during the engraving process and keep a uniform volume across the face of the roll. Cost savings from more efficient ink transfer and less plugging, is the result.
VOLUME MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
It is not possible to make consistent engravings if you are unable to consistently measure the line screen and volumes. Harper was the first anilox company to embrace and use Interferometry, which the FTA FQC committee has listed as the most repeatable method to measure anilox volume at the 2011 Forum.
Harper has developed and incorporated the use of an internal proprietary software to work with standard measuring equipment. Every anilox we engrave is set up in the laser using measurement verification prior to engraving and then checked across the anilox surface after engraving. This gives us a quantifiable measurement of a cell wall in the form of a percentage. This tool allows Harper to maintain a consistently smooth surface after engraving. Cost savings are generated as rolls perform with less wear and scoring, providing extended performance.
SUPERFINISH
As press speeds and line counts increase, so has the importance of the surface finishes of our rolls before laser engraving.
As part of our Harper’s quality standard, every anilox surface is measured to record the roughness average (RA) after polishing and before laser. All other things being equal, rough surfaces usually wear more quickly and have higher friction coefficients than smooth surfaces. Roughness is often a good predictor of a mechanical component’s performance and longevity since irregularities in its surface may form cracks or corrosion. The lower the RA, the lower the amount of roughness on the anilox.
Every anilox Harper manufactures has an RA of less than 3.0 before being laser engraved. This low RA finish cannot be obtained without a 1% or lower porosity of our ceramic, allowing us to provide the smoothest surface in the industry and the best engraving consistency.
Order Harper Express™ anilox rolls by noon and Harper will engrave to your specifications and ship to you within 2-3 business days. All of the anilox base cores are held in our Harper Express™ Stock. Choose from the most common narrow web press models listed here.
*Core Type: Harper Express™ rolls are available only with the core type specified on the chart. The traditional core is our customary high-grade steel anilox core. The Echolite™ core is manufactured from the same high-grade steel as the traditional cores, but by utilizing new and propriertary techniques, we decreased the weight of the roll by 25-35%.
| Gallus EM-280 | Omega Digicon Series II with Races
Omega Digicon Series II without Races | Mark Andy 10″ 2200/4150 Mark Andy 13″ 2200 Mark Andy 16″ 4120, 4200, 4150 & 4140 Mark Andy 10″ P Series (3, 5, 7) Mark Andy 13″ P Series (3, 5, 7) Mark Andy 17″ P Series (3, 5, 7) | Nilpeter Model 2400 Nilpeter FA-4* 16″ Nilpeter FA-4* 17″ Nilpeter FB 2500 Nilpeter FB 3300 Nilpeter FB 4200 | Webtron 650 32DP Webtron 650 1/8″ Pitch 64 Tooth Webtron 750 63 Tooth Webtron 750 1/8″ Pitch 64 Tooth |
The number one priority with all the products manufactured and commercialized by Harper is the quality of the of the images you produce.
Harper has taken great pride in ensuring every customer experiences ‘print quality’ improvements as a result of delivering excellence in its products and services. Experience greater peace of mind with the fairest, most comprehensive warranty in the industry.
Harper has a dedicated, one-of-a-kind team of experts and over 50 years of experience as the leading anilox manufacture, continually developing technology and solving the toughest industry problems. We are here to help and stand behind our experts and experience, helping our customers achieve optimum results in a consistent and reliable manner. That is why, in addition to our Anilox Warranty, Harper is proud to offer a Performance Guarantee for its anilox rolls that have been vetted by Harper’s experts to be the best solution for our customer’s specific application and use!
The anilox roll is widely known as the heart of the flexographic press and Harper is very proud to continuously develop new technology. To someone on the outside looking in over the past few years, the anilox roll may have seemed a dormant part of the Flexographic industry. However, Harper has been very busy behind the scenes developing further advancements to take the manufacturing of anilox rolls to a whole new dimension.
The technology of manufacturing an anilox today, as compared to 5 or 10 years ago, is not the same. Customers today are under more demand for consistency, repeatability and tighter tolerances. Everything is measured in the printing world from ink viscosity, dot gain, density, feeds, speeds, waste, etc. With that in mind, Harper has taken the same systematic approach in the manufacturing of anilox rolls.
Harper has made major investments and committed a massive amount of time and focus in order to scientifically measure every process of manufacturing an anilox roll. A major part of Harper’s investments has come in the form of new technology, equipment, software development, and instrument purchases to scientifically measure our processes in a constant effort to maintain consistency.
We also recognize that behind every new technological advancement or piece of equipment, stands highly skilled and dedicated employees. It is for this reason that we constantly strive to ensure that our employees are continuously improving. Opportunities are provided for additional training on a regular basis.
This offers valuable experience, relevance, and insight, which the employees can bring with them to apply the knowledge gained as they manufacture the world’s finest anilox rolls.
From the advent of flexographic printing and Anilox Roll manufacturing, Harper Corporation of America has earned the distinction of being the best, and the global leader in new anilox roll products and technologies. We offer more than our word. Every claim Harper makes about our products, services and support is backed by the best warranty in the industry.
Harperscientific™ is the Printing and Coatings Supplies Division that provides products and services to flexographic printers all over the world. As a leader in the precision proofing market, HarperScientific supplies precision proofers, safe and user-friendly ink cleaners and measurement equipment.
To deliver measurable and quantifiable solutions that keep your print room running at peak efficiency, Harper assembled a multi-disciplined team of expert, tools, systems and training to form Harper Technical Solutions. Our programs are customized, deliver a typical 6 month return on investment and are backed by the best warranty in the industry.
