IPCO Steel Belts for High-Speed, High-Precision Digital Printing

Published: February 18, 2022

IPCO, the world’s largest manufacturer of steel belts, will use InPrint 2022 to highlight research showing that steel conveyor belts offer up to 6x better stability on a digital press than plastic belts, and to showcase the benefits of its new High Precision Tracking (HPT) system.

Independent tests carried out by contract research company Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT have shown that belt vibration can be up to six times lower with a steel belt than with a plastic belt. Laser-based sensors measured the vibration in steel and plastic belts at speeds from 30-300 m/min. Vibration levels were three to six times lower on the steel belt, depending on speed and tension levels.

“Our steel belts are characterized by their flatness, straightness, stability and durability,” Cherryleen Garcia-Lindgren, Global Product Manager at IPCO, said. “Together, these qualities deliver improved print accuracy and enable high precision digital printing at greater speeds than any other belt type.”

IPCO’s new HPT solution was specifically developed to meet the challenges of digital printing. Offering belt tracking accurate to +/- 0.1 mm, the HPT is suitable for use on presses with belt speeds up to 300m/min. The system combines electric actuation cylinders with contact-free optical sensors to deliver rapid system reaction times and correct belt positioning. The compact unit also serves as a powerful and effective tensioning system.

IPCO’s steel belts are precision engineered at the company’s factory in Sweden, and can be manufactured in solid form or punched with perforations for use with vacuum systems.

Applications for steel belt-based digital printing range from large format corrugated packaging to high quality, full colour branded materials – even furniture board, film wrap and ceramic tiles.

Learn more at www.ipco.com.