Drag-out (gravure print)

Extractors are strips that smear out of the printed area. This is usually caused by dirt that accumulates on the upper side of the doctor bevel. This is favoured by a too low doctor blade angle or a too flexible setting. These impurities are often caused by poor maintenance, reused ink or insufficient filtration.

Solutions to droug-out:

• Check the doctor bevel for impurities, dirt or ink residues and remove with a squeegee wood.
• If no impurities are visible, fold down the doctor blade bar, check and carefully remove the doctor bevel with a cloth and solvent.
• Check the ink for impurities, check filters for blockages and use clean ink trays and equipment. Change ink if necessary.
• Inspect the doctor blade angle and steepen if necessary.
• Check the doctor blade setting, set setting harder or use thicker support doctor blades. As a rule of thumb use three times the thickness of the doctor blade.
  
  TKM recommends TKM CeraPrint.