For better print quality, R/bak® Cushion Mounting Materials improve registration, reduce dot gain, decrease plate deformation, improve ink transfer and allow the use of finer screens for finer line work. R/bak materials are advanced, open cell urethanes that provide the most consistent, resilient cushioning for flexographic printing. Delivering consistent compressibility performance on press, these mounting solutions reduce pressure and absorb shock for flexographic printing plates, resulting not only in longer plate and cushion life, but also higher print quality.
The big quality difference between R/bak Cushion Mounting Materials and other cushions is in the cushioning material. The open-cell urethane recovers over and over again providing a consistent level of cushioning no matter how many times it is compressed. With typical closed-cell polyethylene mounting systems, the material breaks down in use and does not recover, resulting in loss of ink density, slower press speeds, more adjustments and added costs.
The resilience of open cell urethane enables longer print runs with consistent corrugated printing results while most closed cell polyethylene tapes soon lose impression and require replacement. When pressure is applied to plate mounting systems using R/bak® tape, it is absorbed by the special urethane base material resulting in little or no distortion to the plate or image.
Banding in tonal areas is a common problem for many printers, especially in Narrow Web printing. These bands of alternating high and low ink density can be avoided by using a more resilient tape like R/Bak mounting tapes. R/Bak prevents plate bounce and dissipates vibration resulting in noticeably more uniform tonal areas.
