Düsseldorf, Germany, TRESU Group (Hall 10, Stand D54), the global flexo technology provider, has expanded its range of carbon fibre chamber doctor blades to include 6-metre chambers principally for corrugated applications.

The company's lightweight carbon fibre chambers, now available in wider widths from 1600mm to 6000mm, offer improved chemical resistance, optimised flow and safe, easy handling.

The carbon fibre composition gives high-strength qualities, enabling a relatively low weight of between 2.4kg and 4.1kg per linear metre (approx. 1.6 lb – 2.74 lb per linear foot), thus easing chamber exchange. The chamber's  top-coated ink-repellent internal surface provides extra protection against ink and detergents with high and low pH-values and ensures efficient cleaning after job completion. Additionally, a clamping system allows stainless steel blade changeovers within two minutes. Because of its simplicity and high level of automation, the TRESU carbon fibre chamber can be cleaned and prepared without being removed from the press.

When used with an ink supply and cleaning system, such as TRESU's F10 iCon, the chamber doctor blade offers a fully automated and enclosed means of circulation, maintaining precise flow, pressure and viscosity, as well as eliminating leakage and evaporation during the print run, and significantly reducing setup times.

The enclosed environment also stops air contaminating the chamber and results in foam-free transfer of ink / coating directly to the anilox cells, also at fast speeds. This in turn ensures a clean, blister-free printed image with fast drying characteristics, better reflection and higher gloss values, whether on paper or film. The enclosed chamber also prevents solvents from escaping and protects the ink from degradation due to exposure to the atmosphere.

TRESU's complete range of ancillary products, exhibited at the drupa 2016 stand, includes solutions for the narrow-web market. The company is also showing units from its Flexo Innovator hybrid printing line, for the folding carton market, recently purchased by U.S. packaging converters WestRock and Dominion Packaging.

Henrik Kristensen, vice president, TRESU Ancillary, comments: "Thanks to its time-saving advantages, optimised fluid control and resilience, the TRESU carbon fibre chamber offers a long-term solution for high productivity, low ownership costs and uniform quality. The extension of the range to 6 metres will be of particular benefit to converters in the post-print corrugated market."