The Great Tape Debate: Exclusive Answers to Live Survey Questions

At the live FTA Forum event The Great Tape Debate, the audience was asked to submit their questions for the panelists to address during the debate. Unfortunately, the panel was unable to address all of the questions. We’re following up with our Application Solution Engineer, Alix Guyot, to shed some light on these topics. Keep reading to see her responses to some of your toughest questions. 

Do you have a question related to plate-mounting tapes or self-adhesive sleeves? Let us know! We'll be happy to speak with you. Just fill out the form below and one of our experts will be in touch. 

Questions related to self-adhesive sleeves 

On the surface, self-adhesive sleeves seem like a no-brainer. So, why haven’t more printers adopted this technology? 

There are two main reasons why self-adhesive sleeves haven’t been more widely adopted: cost and training. Although the initial cost of tesa® Twinlock may appear steep in comparison to plate-mounting tape, there are strategies to expedite the ROI for tesa® Twinlock sleeves, optimizing the advantages of the investment. It’s best to purchase tesa® Twinlock when buying a new set of sleeves; whether that’s a replacement, a new size, or the first set for a new press. For printers, making the switch can take time. We know that the ROI for tesa® Twinlock doesn’t make sense for every repeat, so we work with our customers to identify the best solution for their unique needs. We encourage most printers to utilize a combination of both tape and self-adhesive sleeves. 

The second reason adoption has been a gradual process is because of a lack of training. Utilizing tesa® Twinlock sleeves requires closely following the standard operating procedure. This means cleaning the sleeve every time, eliminating the use of any knives or sharp implements on the sleeves, and handling the sleeves with care. Since acquiring Twinlock in 2018, we have built out much more robust training programs to help with the transition process. 

Do the self-adhesive sleeves need to be in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment? 

No, they don’t need to be in a special environment. Any adhesive (tape or otherwise) will react to high temperatures and humidity, but no special considerations need to be made. 

What are the latest developments in reusable sleeves? How have we overcome issues in the past to make them more user-friendly? 

One change we’ve made is the training we provide. Where there may have only been limited training previously, we’ve built strong programs for mounters and press crews. We often train each shift in the process, so everyone starts on the same foot. We offer certification courses with hands-on experience.  

We have also improved the production quality of the sleeves. Areas of improvement were identified to ensure cleaner, smoother seams and create better ways to seal in the foam to protect the sleeves.  

What happens when a cushion sleeve gets cut with a razor blade to fix a printing plate issue on press? 

tesa® Twinlock sleeves have three layers on top of the base sleeve, foam, a stabilization film, and the self-adhesive tesa® Twinlock layer. When you cut or nick the tesa® Twinlock, two things can happen that will impact performance. First, in some cases the cut can create a ridge that shows as a high spot in printing. Second, the cut will allow the cleaning solvent into those layers, and they will begin to separate from themselves and the base sleeve. The good news is that we can recoat the tesa® Twinlock layer when the base sleeve is still useable. This is why it's important to properly train the team on tesa® Twinlock etiquette. This will increase the life of your tesa® Twinlock sleeves.  

Questions related to plate-mounting tapes 

How can I prevent plate lift on 064 plates when mounting on cushion sleeves? 

First, I would ask about what tape you are using currently. Maybe a change in adhesives would help.  

Then I would troubleshoot the mounting process: 

• Are you using a roller to apply the plate? 

• Are your plate edges clean and flat? 
• If you clean the plates on press, are you avoiding getting the solvent on the plate edge? 
• Have you tried using a primer or an edge seal tape?
   

Reach out to your rep to have a personalized solution plan developed.  

Is there a run length that you would not re-use mounting tape? 

In general, we don’t recommend re-using mounting tape at all. It’s difficult to know how that tape was used in the last run. Was a plate over-impressed, was a particular color washed up multiple times, was any silicone or wax used? All of these variables can impact performance.  

What is the difference between PE and PET stabilization on the foam? 

We can only speak to our tapes, but this is how they are different: 

• PE – On both sides of the foam. Allows the tape to expand and contract on thin-walled sleeves when they are mounted and demounted in the press. It also gives the tape more conformability, making it easier to adhere to scratches and cuts in the sleeves. 
• PET – On one side of the tape. Makes a stiff, non-stretching tape. The PET can help demount the tape, especially on softer durometers. Some mounters like the way the PET tape lays down on the sleeve or cylinder.
   

How do you get rid of banding when running 17-in. wide on a Mark Andy P7 press? 

There is no easy answer, as it would depend on what is causing the banding. Here are some quick things to try: 

• Softer tape – if you can use a softer tape, this will provide more cushion 
• Harder tape – if you are over-impressing because the solid is mottled, that can make bounce worse. A harder tape can help print the solid better at a lighter impression
• Add barer bars, especially if the artwork has large solids and large areas of no print causing bounce. 

 

Do you have a question related to plate-mounting tapes or self-adhesive sleeves? Let us know! We'll be happy to speak with you. Just fill out the form below and one of our experts will be in touch.