Cheshire Anilox upgrades coating system with UK’s first UniCoat 3 Plasma Triplex installation

UK – Cheshire Anilox has strengthened its manufacturing capabilities with a major technology upgrade, becoming the first company in the UK to install Oerlikon Metco’s latest-generation UniCoat 3 Plasma Triplex thermal spray system.

The investment marks a significant step forward in precision engineering, enabling tighter control, repeatability and higher-quality anilox coatings for printers across packaging, labels and converting sectors.

The UniCoat 3 platform brings advanced process stability, real-time monitoring and enhanced data logging through sophisticated control algorithms.

By upgrading its coating system, Cheshire Anilox aims to boost consistency, enhance reliability and streamline the production of its anilox rollers, critical components that determine ink transfer accuracy in flexographic printing.

“This investment reflects our long-term commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction,” said Sonia Arcos, managing director at Cheshire Anilox.

“UniCoat 3 gives us greater control, traceability and reliability, ensuring we continue to deliver industry-leading anilox performance with outstanding coating quality and long-lasting durability.”

A key feature of the new system is its intuitive touchscreen interface and flexible configuration options, which significantly reduce setup times and simplify daily operation for technical staff.

The system’s multi-coat capability provides enhanced versatility for complex coating requirements, ensuring that both standard and specialized anilox specifications can be produced with improved uniformity.

“From an operational standpoint, this upgrade is a game-changer,” added Phil Smith, production director.

“The improved process stability and multi-coat capability allow us to achieve highly consistent results while giving our operators better visibility and control than ever before.”

The investment aligns with wider trends in the print and packaging sectors, where converters are demanding higher resolution, tighter tolerances and improved ink efficiency.

Increasing adoption of water-based inks, extended-gamut printing and faster digital-flexo hybrid workflows have placed greater performance expectations on anilox rollers.

Suppliers across Europe and North America are modernizing production lines with automation, advanced thermal spray systems and robotics to meet these demands.

Recent upgrades in the sector include expanded laser engraving capacities and precision ceramic coating technologies among major anilox manufacturers, as the industry targets higher durability and reduced downtime for printers.

Cheshire Anilox’s upgrade positions the company to serve these evolving requirements, reinforcing its technical capabilities and strengthening its competitive advantage within the global anilox market.

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