SUPPLIER REPORTS 2026 (PART II)
ARC INTERNATIONAL Charlotte, North Carolina: Steve Woodard reports: “2025 was another great year for ARC International! It was also the first full year of working closely with our parent com-
balanced with welded internal weights. • Fortunately, both ARC International manufacturing fa- cilities in Charlotte, North Carolina and Las Vegas, Ne- vada are able to perform any necessary machine work in-house without the need for outside vendors. This leads to better lead times! “Remember that ARC International technical repre- sentatives can perform critical anilox roller audits on flexo presses in-plant and provide analysis in a timely manner. They can also offer care and handling seminars to ensure that operators have the best understanding of how to choose, care for and maintain their rollers to achieve con- sistent print quality and a longer life.” Visit: https://www.arcinternational.com . COPAR SOLUTIONS Burbank, Illinois: Jim Burrows reports: “I can confidently say it was one of the busiest and most rewarding years in company history. Both domestic and international orders commitment resulted in the introduction of significant new products and updates to existing products, each en- gineered to address critical challenges faced by today’s corrugating operations. “Safety was a critical focus in 2025. One of the high- lights of our year was the introduction of FireSafe360™, our most comprehensive industrial fire prevention system to date. Plant fires have been increasing over the past five to eight years, often caused by the buildup of flammable materials such as paper dust in areas that are difficult to see or access. FireSafe360 was designed to address that risk head-on by identifying threats before a fire can start. “Using a network of AI-enabled infrared cameras and particulate sensors, FireSafe360 continuously monitors the corrugator environment. When an ignition source or temperature anomaly is detected, FireSafe360 immedi- ately stops the machine, sounds an audible alarm, and no- tifies operators and management. The result is a proactive safety solution that reduces downtime, repair costs, and lost production, and may help lower insurance costs. “We also have our updated Laser Warp Correction AI™ in final test stage. The use of green laser technology offers many advantages over our previous red laser version. The green laser solution delivers enhanced efficiency, great- er accuracy through a 4K camera for superior resolution, were on the rise. That momentum re- inforces what we hear daily from our customers: investments in efficiency, safety, and intelligent automation are no longer optional, they’re essential. “A major driver of our success in 2025 was continued investment in research and development. That Jim Burrows
pany, Precision Roll Solutions. This partnership has allowed ARC to ex- pand our full-service capabilities and range of products to serve the cor- rugated industry. The anilox roller, however, continues to be the core product of ARC and on which the company was founded in 1984. The
Steve Woodard
anilox roller is often called the “heart” of the flexographic press, as it is designed to consistently supply the proper amount of ink to the printing plate. “Let’s address some of the frequently asked questions regarding anilox rollers: “How long should an anilox roller last? This is a com- mon question and the answer is dependent upon many factors such as: • Proper blade pressure and blade angle • Whether the press is a top or bottom printer • Press preventive maintenance; if rollers are neglected and allowed to remain dirty and plugged with dried ink, operators and maintenance personnel assume the roll- er is worn due to poor ink transfer; upon prematurely removing the roller from the press instead of thorough- ly cleaning it, real impact damage often occurs • High pH anilox cleaners that haven’t been diluted can result in premature corrosion issues • Damaged cells from excessive soda blast cleaning “What are the best products, chemicals, or materials to clean anilox rollers for them to maintain their volume and continue to provide proper color density? • Since most water-based inks have a pH level of 8.5 to 9.2, any cleaning agent has to be stronger to be effec- tive. ARC offers a product called triClean™, which works well on both rollers and plates. • The cleaning plate is manufactured to the same specs as the customer’s printing plate and is mounted in the same manner. If the press has vacuum transfer, a color station that’s not in use can be cleaned while other sta- tions are printing! “How quickly can my damaged or worn anilox roller be repaired and returned? • The roller must be thoroughly inspected to determine the steps required to return the roller to OEM specs. • If the roller has integral journals, then the bearing sur- faces or gear steps may be undersized or egg-shaped and need to be undercut, properly welded, machined and polished. • If the roller is out of balance as determined with dy- namic balancing equipment, it may need to be properly
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24 February 2, 2026
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