An intermediate rotogravure product has a cylindrical case onto which a circumferential copper layer extends, the circumferential copper layer having a characteristic surface roughness Rz and porosity. A copper engraving layer is on the circumferential copper layer. A method for engraving into adds a copper engraving layer, followed by engraving a predetermined pattern. A rotogravure cylinder product and method add a copper engraving layer on the circumferential copper layer that can be engraved in accordance with a predefined pattern and protected with a protection layer.

An intermediate rotogravure product has a cylindrical case onto which a circumferential copper layer extends, the circumferential copper layer having a characteristic surface roughness Rz and porosity. A copper engraving layer is on the circumferential copper layer. A method for engraving into adds a copper engraving layer, followed by engraving a predetermined pattern. A rotogravure cylinder product and method add a copper engraving layer on the circumferential copper layer that can be engraved in accordance with a predefined pattern and protected with a protection layer.

The present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate having high ink transferability and making it possible to perform printing with a high ink density in a solid portion, a flexographic printing plate precursor, a method for manufacturing a flexographic printing plate, and a method for manufacturing a flexographic printing plate precursor. A flexographic printing plate of the present invention includes a relief layer including a non-image area and an image area having an uneven structure formed on a surface, in which the uneven structure is composed of recessed portions consisting of a plurality of grooves and projecting portions other than recessed portions, each of the plurality of grooves has a length of at least 30 m, all of the plurality of grooves are grooves having a line edge roughness in a range of 0.5 to 2.5 m in a region of 30 m of the groove in a longitudinal direction, a depth of the recessed portion is 5 to 25 m, and a ratio of the projecting portion is 5% to 60% of a geometric area of the uneven structure.

A lithographic printing sleeve for mounting on a cylinder in a printing press is provided. The lithographic printing sleeve includes a tubular base layer for contacting and surrounding an outer circumference of the cylinder, a permanent tubular hydrophilic layer on an outer surface of the tubular base layer and a temporary hydrophobic layer on an outer surface of the tubular hydrophilic layer. A variable cutoff printing press is also provided.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a first surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. A development operating assembly applies an absorbent material to the first surface during movement thereof, and comprises feeding means of the absorbent material and heating means for heating the first surface to a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the non-crosslinked polymer/monomer. A second operating assembly comprises contact means configured to cause a contact between the absorbent material and the first surface to allow the melted polymer/monomer to be absorbed by the absorbent material. A cooling assembly cools the plate at an operating position downstream of the operating position at which the absorbent material contacts the first surface, wherein the operating positions are considered with respect to the predetermined trajectory along which the plate is moved.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a first surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. A development operating assembly applies an absorbent material to the first surface during movement thereof, and comprises feeding means of the absorbent material and heating means for heating the first surface to a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the non-crosslinked polymer/monomer. A second operating assembly comprises contact means configured to cause a contact between the absorbent material and the first surface to allow the melted polymer/monomer to be absorbed by the absorbent material. A cooling assembly cools the plate at an operating position downstream of the operating position at which the absorbent material contacts the first surface, wherein the operating positions are considered with respect to the predetermined trajectory along which the plate is moved.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. The moving assembly comprises a support cylinder which includes a cylindrical body that develops around a longitudinal axis, wherein the support cylinder further includes a cover layer which partially covers an outermost surface of the cylindrical body and defines a support surface for the plate. The moving assembly also comprises a plurality of connecting pins connected, directly or indirectly, to the outermost surface of the cylindrical body at a cutoff region of the cover layer, wherein the pins are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein, for each pin, the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and a free end of the pin is less than the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and the defined support surface.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. The moving assembly comprises a support cylinder which includes a cylindrical body that develops around a longitudinal axis, wherein the support cylinder further includes a cover layer which partially covers an outermost surface of the cylindrical body and defines a support surface for the plate. The moving assembly also comprises a plurality of connecting pins connected, directly or indirectly, to the outermost surface of the cylindrical body at a cutoff region of the cover layer, wherein the pins are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein, for each pin, the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and a free end of the pin is less than the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and the defined support surface.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for the production of printing forms for flexographic printing. The apparatus includes a carrier plate on a retaining device, a reservoir and an exposure apparatus. A solidifiable medium is applied to a carrier plate in regions or at certain points in at least one layer in order to configure a raised surface of the printing form. At least one exposure apparatus emits UV radiation, points which are exposed to this radiation. By the sequence of exposure over a defined time and subsequent movement of the carrier plate, preferably in the vertical direction to the exposure apparatus, the solidifiable medium is solidified layer by layer. Thus a raised printing form is produced by repetition of this sequence.

Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for the production of printing forms for flexographic printing. The apparatus includes a carrier plate on a retaining device, a reservoir and an exposure apparatus. A solidifiable medium is applied to a carrier plate in regions or at certain points in at least one layer in order to configure a raised surface of the printing form. At least one exposure apparatus emits UV radiation, points which are exposed to this radiation. By the sequence of exposure over a defined time and subsequent movement of the carrier plate, preferably in the vertical direction to the exposure apparatus, the solidifiable medium is solidified layer by layer. Thus a raised printing form is produced by repetition of this sequence.