A print head for use in a flexographic process, the print head comprising a flat surface having a first portion with a first surface energy and a second portion with a second surface energy that is different from the first surface energy.

A printing sleeve includes a first and radially inward layer having an inner side for directly contacting the outer side of a printing cylinder, and an outer side which is radially opposite the inner side. The first and radially inward layer has a glass fiber reinforced compressible compound such that the glass fibers may absorb the forces that arise in the circumferential direction and/or in the longitudinal direction, and the compressible compound elements may absorb the pressures that arise in the radial direction. In this way, the materials which to date act separately in the base sleeve and the compressible layer are combined in one common layer in which said materials each may perform their function.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate or sleeve has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate or sleeve in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising at least 60 wt % of a polymer blend, where the polymer blend consists of a first polymer component A, a second polymer component B, and optionally one or more further polymer components (C, D, . . . ), where the first polymer component A is present at not less than x wt % in the polymer blend, where 90x99, and where the second polymer component B and any further polymer components C, D, . . . present are present in total at y wt % in the polymer blend, where y=100x, where each polymer component (A, B, C, . . . ) derives to an extent of at least 60 wt % from (meth)acrylic monomers, wherein none of the polymer components (A, B, C, . . . ) is homogeneously miscible at room temperature with any of the other polymer components (A, B, C, . . . ), and so a multi-phase system is present.

A pressure-sensitive adhesive comprising at least 60 wt % of a polymer blend, where the polymer blend consists of a first polymer component A, a second polymer component B, and optionally one or more further polymer components (C, D, . . . ), where the first polymer component A is present at not less than x wt % in the polymer blend, where 90x99, and where the second polymer component B and any further polymer components C, D, . . . present are present in total at y wt % in the polymer blend, where y=100x, where each polymer component (A, B, C, . . . ) derives to an extent of at least 60 wt % from (meth)acrylic monomers, wherein none of the polymer components (A, B, C, . . . ) is homogeneously miscible at room temperature with any of the other polymer components (A, B, C, . . . ), and so a multi-phase system is present.

A flexographic printing raw plate including: a support; a photosensitive resin composition layer on the support; an intermediate layer; and an infrared ablation layer in the presented order, wherein in a tensile stress-strain curve diagram measured by molding the intermediate layer into dumbbell shape No. 8 with a thickness of 100 ?m in accordance with JIS K 6251 (2017), an elongation at a breaking point is 5% or more and 200% or less, an elongation at a point where the stress is maximized is 3% or more and 200% or less, and a maximum value of the stress is 1.0 MPa or more and 15 MPa or less.

A flexographic printing raw plate including: a support; a photosensitive resin composition layer on the support; an intermediate layer; and an infrared ablation layer in the presented order, wherein in a tensile stress-strain curve diagram measured by molding the intermediate layer into dumbbell shape No. 8 with a thickness of 100 ?m in accordance with JIS K 6251 (2017), an elongation at a breaking point is 5% or more and 200% or less, an elongation at a point where the stress is maximized is 3% or more and 200% or less, and a maximum value of the stress is 1.0 MPa or more and 15 MPa or less.

There are provided a regeneration treatment apparatus, a washout processor, and a manufacturing method of a flexographic printing plate in which attachment of a resin aggregate generated as a non-exposed portion of an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor is removed through development using a washing solution can be suppressed and the resin aggregate can be easily cleaned off even in a case of being attached. The regeneration treatment apparatus removes, from a used washing solution containing the resin aggregate generated as the non-exposed portion of the imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor having a photosensitive resin layer is removed through development using the washing solution of which a main component is water, the resin aggregate. The regeneration treatment apparatus has a centrifuge that has a rotating body for separating out the resin aggregate from the used washing solution and an induction path through which the resin aggregate from the centrifuge passes. A portion in contact with the resin aggregate has a critical surface tension of 31 mN/m or less and a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.2 or less.

There are provided a regeneration treatment apparatus, a washout processor, and a manufacturing method of a flexographic printing plate in which attachment of a resin aggregate generated as a non-exposed portion of an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor is removed through development using a washing solution can be suppressed and the resin aggregate can be easily cleaned off even in a case of being attached. The regeneration treatment apparatus removes, from a used washing solution containing the resin aggregate generated as the non-exposed portion of the imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor having a photosensitive resin layer is removed through development using the washing solution of which a main component is water, the resin aggregate. The regeneration treatment apparatus has a centrifuge that has a rotating body for separating out the resin aggregate from the used washing solution and an induction path through which the resin aggregate from the centrifuge passes. A portion in contact with the resin aggregate has a critical surface tension of 31 mN/m or less and a dynamic friction coefficient of 0.2 or less.

A development medium for flexographic heat development, the development medium having a porosity of 35% or more and 95% or less, and an elastic recovery rate of 40% or more and 99% or less.