Gravurecilinders

Gravurecilinders, often referred to as rotogravure cylinders, are precision-engineered metal cylinders used in rotogravure printing. The surface of a gravure cylinder is etched with tiny recessed cells that hold ink. As the cylinder rotates, the cells transfer ink onto the substrate in contact with an impression cylinder, producing high-quality continuous tone images and fine detail. Gravure printing is well suited for long production runs, such as packaging, magazines, and security printing.

Construction and engraving: Most gravure cylinders consist of a copper or copper-alloy core with a surface engraved to form cells. After engraving, the cylinder is often chromium plated to improve wear resistance and ink release consistency. Engraving methods include direct laser engraving, mechanical engraving (lathe or milling), and photogravure techniques. Cell geometry, shape, depth and density determine ink volume and tonal range; multiple cell sizes are used to reproduce shadows and highlights. Cylinder masters can be prepared digitally and converted into engraving data for production.

Operation and applications: Ink is applied to the cylinder and the surface is wiped by a doctor blade so that ink remains only in the cells. The substrate passes between the gravure cylinder and the impression cylinder, receiving ink from the cells during contact. Gravure cylinders enable high-speed, high-volume production with consistent color and fine detail. They are widely used in packaging (beverages, cosmetics, tobacco), printed matter, wallpaper, and security printing for specialized applications requiring durable, tamper-evident output.