What "Antistatic" Really Means for Your Printing Press & How to Verify It

From the risk of fire with solvent-based inks to ink spitting and "haloing" that ruin a perfect print, uncontrolled static can bring your operations to a grinding halt.

Many tooling suppliers offer "antistatic" sleeves as a solution. But is that label enough? Not all antistatic solutions are created equal. A simple claim is not a guarantee of performance. To truly protect your investment and your team, you need a solution that is tested, approved, and proven to perform under demanding conditions.

The Hidden Danger of Inadequate Testing

The common technology that allows antistatic properties is a basic three-point conductivity. While this, in theory, provides static dissipation, it fails to do so if the points and the madrel are misalign. 

At Rotometal, we don't settle for "good enough." Our rotoSLEEVE Antistatic and ECO Antistatic sleeves are engineered for comprehensive static dissipation. We measure for both:

• Surface Conductivity: Ability to dissipate a charge along its surface.

• Volume Conductivity: Ability to dissipate a charge through its entire material.

This approach ensures uniform, reliable, and predictable antistatic performance from the core of the sleeve to its surface, providing a superior level of safety and print quality.

The Power of Third-Party Validation: Tested, Approved, and Verified

We don't just make claims about our sleeves' performance; we have the independent validation to back them up.

Our rotoSLEEVE Antistatic sleeves have been rigorously tested and approved by the DFTA (German Flexographic Technical Association). This approval is a respected industry benchmark, confirming that our sleeves meet the highest standards for safety and operational excellence.

Furthermore, our solutions have been tested and verified by Comexi, one of the world's leading manufacturers of printing and converting machines. This means our sleeves have been proven to perform flawlessly in the very environments they are designed for, giving you unparalleled peace of mind.

Choosing Your Solution: Standard and ECO Antistatic

Whether your priority is top-tier performance or combining that with sustainability, we have a solution:

1. rotoSLEEVE Antistatic: The benchmark for safety and performance in demanding environments.

2. rotoSLEEVE ECO Antistatic: Offers the exact same DFTA-approved antistatic properties while being manufactured with renewable and recycled materials, allowing you to enhance safety without compromising your green initiatives.

Don't Settle for a Buzzword. Demand Approved Performance.

The next time you evaluate antistatic tooling, ask your supplier for more than just a claim. Ask for their testing methodology. Ask for their third-party approvals.

Your press, your people, and your products deserve the verified protection that only a comprehensively tested and approved solution can provide.

Ready to see the difference for yourself? Contact our team today for the full technical specifications and the report from our DFTA testing.