Charlotte, NC – When a customer asked HarperScientific to develop a special plate sleeve storage system, the division of global anilox supplier Harper Corporation signed on enthusiastically.

A Fortune 500 manufacturer headquartered in the U.S., the customer knew exactly what it wanted: vertical, enclosed units that could store 20- to 40-inch repeat by 100-inch or longer plate sleeves. Also, the storage racks had to be modular, hold at least eight sleeves and offer easy accessibility from either side.

Because floor space at the customer site was limited, HarperScientific craftsmen equipped each unit with heavy-duty casters and securing straps. That way, the enclosures – shielding the sleeves from light sources and normal plate dust -- could be stored away from the printing line then easily moved, unloaded and reloaded by a single operator.

Delivering the completed storage units proved another challenge. The oversized enclosures shipped fully assembled on their side using special harnessing. At destination, the units were immediately put into use once they were positioned upright.

In producing the custom units, Harper experts relied on many design features already available to the global anilox market from Harper's SleeveWrak family of roll racks. Vertical storage prevents the sleeves from losing shape.

"Our customer was very pleased with the concept, design, quality of construction and overall flexibility of the system – and that is music to our ears," said Jim Harper, HarperScientific Vice President.