Warranty Disclaimer for under-Corrosion

Apex International is committed to manufacturing all its products according to our customers expectations and OEM specifications. We take pride to ensure the highest quality standards  are achieved and maintained at every stage of the production process through our QCA instructions , which includes daily calibration of our measurement tools ( microscopes, micrometers, etc) coupled with our internal calibration process we also send test samples of our materials on a regular basis to leading universities for independent assessment and validation .

Our production staff is fully trained on the QCA standards needed for full product tractability.

In the unlikely event that you receive a product from Apex that does not meet with the required standard , please follow the procedure below and as mentioned on the backside of our QCR report.

Warranty

This Limited Warranty applies to physical goods Anilox rolls , Anilox sleeves, Glue sets , as well as other

goods purchased from Apex International.

Apex will have the option to arrange transportation and after receipt of the product to make a full investigation and assessment of any claim.

In the event that the investigation does not clearly identify a failure in manufacture Apex reserves the right to invoice for costs incurred such as inspection and/or cleaning including transportation costs.

What does this limited warranty cover?

This Limited Warranty covers our products against under Corrosion provided that the product is used under normal industry working conditions with recommended maintenance, cleaning and storage adhered too during the Warranty Period.

During the Warranty Period, Apex International will repair or replace at no charge, products or parts of a product that are proved to be defective because of material failure or poor workmanship.

What will we do to correct problems?

Apex International will either repair the Product at no charge, using new or refurbished replacement parts or replace with a totally new product at Apex discretion.

How long does the coverage last?

The Under corrosion Warranty Period for our products is 1 year / 365 days from the date of invoice.  Any replacement Physical Good or parts will only assumes the remaining warranty period of the original order.

What does this limited warranty not cover?

This Limited Warranty does not cover any problem that is caused by:

• Poor storage conditions, malfunctions or damage not resulting from defects in material or workmanship

What do you have to do?

To initiate a warranty claim, you must first contact your local Apex Representative to allow Apex International the time to follow the claims procedure and determine the most appropriate solution for you .

To begin the warranty claim you should follow the procedures at the back of the QCR report and provide us with our Work Order Nr and provide us with detailed technical information (ideally photos, Videos, Print samples, etc)

Claim Procedure

In the unlikely event that our product was not delivered as expected, please let us know in the following ways:

1. To expedite the claim, process you are requested to explain the problem in as much detail as possible and to send photos, videos and a print sample (if applicable). The Apex reference numbers (AB/W/C numbers) are essential for the investigation to begin immediately. Send your information to the below internal department for the fastest follow up. Consider if your product was delivered by:
   • Apex Europe, Hapert/NL: quality@eu.apexinternational.com / Tel. + 31 497 361111
   • Apex Italy, Olgiate Olona/Italy: quality@it.apexinternational.com / Tel. + 39 0331 379 063
   • Apex North America, Donora/USA: quality@na.apexinternational.com / Tel. 1 724 379 8880
   • Apex Latin America, Paraná/Brazil: quality@la.apexinternational.com / Tel. 55 41 3677 2678
   • Apex Asia, Nashik/India: quality@ap.apexinternational.com / Tel. 91 2 551 66 111 

1. If it is required to return the product to Apex, please ensure to clean the roll, use a secure crate and put the RMA nr. on the crate, and Apex will provide information on collection.
2. After receiving the above information and receipt of the product, Apex will make a full inspection based on your input and advise on how we want to solve the problem. As soon as the decision has been made, Apex will replace the product within a 3 week period.

Use & Care of Anilox rolls/sleeves

The anilox roll/sleeve is considered to be the heart of the flexographic printing press. It transfers a determined amount of ink from A (ink reservoir / rubber metering roll) to B (printing plate). This requires  high level of precision. If the surface of the anilox roll/sleeve is damaged, an unequal layer of ink will be transferred onto a printing plate, creating poor quality print jobs. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that an anilox roll/sleeve is treated in the best possible way. When used/cared properly the lifetime of an anilox roll/sleeve is 2 years. A few simple steps can help you achieve this or even increase the lifetime of your anilox rolls/sleeves.

Handling upon Arrival

• When a new roll/sleeve arrives in your facility, inspect the crate to ensure there is no damage to the outside. If you notice damage occurred, notify the carrier to establish the responsibility.
• Remove the roll from the shipping crate and remove the protective wrap.
• Inspect the roll for damages such as dings, dents or scratches. These will affect the print quality.
• If you have a claim related to transport damage, do not throw away the packing material, but send this together with the roll/sleeve back to Apex. Also mention a transport claim on the delivery note. In case of a transport claim, please write on the transport documents that the crate is damaged and include the name of the truck driver + driver’s signature. Please also make a photo for physical proof.

Installing into the press

• Use the roll/sleeve with care. Never leave the roll/sleeve resting directly on its surface, while this can cause damage to the engraved surface. Always support the roll/sleeve from the journals.
• When installing an anilox roll/sleeve into the press, cover the body with a roll wrap or covering blanket to protect the engraved surface from being damaged by impact against a hard surface (ex. The machine frame).
• Ceramic is not impact resistant and chips easily. Chipped ceramic on the ends of the roll/sleeve can eventually lead to inks and solvent leaching under the ceramic. This will reduce the lifetime of the roll and it may even cause the doctor blades to chatter.

In the daily print/production process

• Once the anilox roll is installed in the press, never run the roll dry with the ink chamber loaded against the roll. This will cause excessive wear to the doctor blades as well as scoring of the anilox.
• When ink is in the chambers keep the roll running so the cells do not become plugged with dry ink.
• If ink is dried onto the surface or the ends of the roll/sleeve never use tools to ‘chisel’ it off, you may damage the ceramic easily.
• Follow the proper daily and periodical cleaning instructions. Use chemical cleaners with a pH value between 6.5- and 10.5.
• Do not use chlorine, ammonia or 100% acidic as cleaning liquids. These means, will attack the ceramic layer and cause corrosion.
• Store anilox rolls/sleeves covered either in a rack or in its original crate. If a cover is used, make sure the surface of the anilox is 100% clean and dry.

Additional advice for Anilox Sleeves:

• Sleeves are a highly technical advanced and delicate product that need to be handled very carefully. All sudden impact and high local pressure can cause problems with TIR or fitting.
• The mountability / TIR of the construction of the anilox sleeve manufactured by Apex International is thoroughly tested on a mandrel and approved before leaving the facility.
• Check if air mandrel diameter is within the original Stork tolerance, and not too badly damaged, especially in front of first air holes
• Sleeve should be mounted onto the mandrel without issues, be aware that any rocking / wiggling movements can have negative consequences for the tolerance of the sleeve construction
• The air pressure measured at the air cylinder should be between 6 and 8 bar (87-116 psi)
• The air volume flow should not fall below 12 litres per second (0.42 cubic ft/sec).
• The compressed air system and cylinder surfaces should be free from moisture, oils, lubricants and inks.
• Check for blockages in the air outlet holes from time to time, all air holes have to be open
• Sleeves should be kept clean, inside and outside: dried ink can cause damages and improper fit. The air mandrel should be clean and in good condition within OEM tolerances before mounting a sleeve. Also set air system to OEM specifications.
• A sleeve should be loaded in a straight horizontal line, without forcing the sleeve up and down. Only twisting or spinning the sleeve on the mandrel is allowed. Avoid hard impact on the back stop to prevent chipping of the ceramic.
• Do not submerge an anilox sleeve.
• All chemical cleaners should be washed off very well and sleeve should be dried thoroughly before covering.
• Avoid the use of grease or Vaseline, especially at the internal parts of the sleeve
• Because of concentricity and TIR, anilox sleeves should be stored in a rack, vertically on a heavy foam pad, using a protection cover to avoid damage.

Cleaning of Anilox Rolls/Sleeves

During normal use and to ensure a long life and high print quality, anilox rolls/sleeves must be cleaned immediately after a press run to remove the ink. If ink is allowed to dry, the build-up of deposits inside the cell decreases the amount of ‘fluid’ ink to come out of the cell and be transferred onto a printing plate. Because your volume transfer is not consistent, your print quality will become inconsistent too. By using a regular cleaning procedure, you can easily avoid this.

For daily cleaning of the anilox roll/sleeve:

• Clean water with a maximum possible Dh < 7°

or

• An alcohol based cleaning solvent

or

• A chemical cleaner (pH value between 5 – 11). Apex advices BioClean Liquids for daily or periodical cleaning of anilox rolls and sleeves.

General notes:

• Apex International recommends the use of cleaning agents that are not harmful to the environment, nor to our products. The potential Hydrogen (pH) is leading for the use of proper cleaning materials. All cleaning liquids must be in between 5 – 11 Ph. Note that when the value reaches < 5 the cleaning liquid will become acid and is dangerous for steel products. In case the value reaches > 11 Ph, aluminum can be affected. Cleaning liquids will have to be used in accordance with the requirements of the vendor. Please always read the cleaning instructions (SDS &PI) carefully. Apex International cannot be held responsible for damage caused by cleaning liquids.
• Do not use chlorine, ammonia or 100% acidic as cleaning liquids. These means will attack the ceramic layer and cause corrosion.
• Always use the appropriate product with the specific brush. Steel brush for ceramic rolls and brass brush for chrome plated rolls.

Cleaning procedure for (BioClean) liquids:

• Apply the cleaning liquid of your choice onto the roll surface and allow it to soak.
• Clean the surface of the roll by using a steel brush (for a ceramic roll/sleeve). Brush the area in circular motion, using maximum pressure. Be sure that the roll stays wet during this step. By forcing the solvent into the cells with the brush, the ink will be removed.
• After cleaning, rinse the roll with clean hot water (max. 40 °C and Dh < 7°).
• Wipe it down (use a wiper or a lint free cloth).
• Check the roll and repeat the cleaning cycle if needed.
• Check that the roll/sleeve is dry, no drips should appear at the bottom side of the roll/sleeve. If drips appear, wipe them off.
• Let the rolls/sleeves dry (sleeves -> vertical!)
• Store the roll/sleeve in a rack or in their original crate/package. Do not wrap into foil.

Additional information for cleaning sleeves:

• Do not submerge sleeves
• After cleaning, store in vertical position on a heavy foam pad (TIR and concentricity!)

Additional information for cleaning Corrugated anilox rolls:

Cleaning water based inks in Corrugated gives good result if you rinse the roll in a bath with heated water + a cleaning liquid for 1-2 hours Max. 55°.

Cleaning procedure for mechanical deep-cleaning of anilox rolls/sleeves

Apex advices mechanical deep-cleaning by means of following possibilities:

• BioClean Liquids

Certain BioClean liquids can be used for periodical cleaning of anilox rolls/sleeves. You will find a description here. Each liquid requires its own cleaning method, which is clearly described on the manual coming with the product.

• BioJet In-Press or Cabinet -> CLEANING INSIDE CELL

The Biojet dry-powder cleaning system works with “dry” sodium bicarbonate powder. A grain of sodium bicarbonate powder touches the anilox roll/ink layer with pressure and will be shattered. The impact this has on the anilox surface leads to the pollution coming loose from the surface, resulting in a clean roll. All kinds of inks can be removed: water/solvent/UV based inks and even 2-components coatings. It is a safe method, hardly any chance on damages to the anilox rolls/sleeves. It is an environmentally friendly way, powder can be deposited with regular waste. The equipment is completely automated and therefore operator-friendly. Immediately after cleaning, the roll/sleeve can be installed into the machine again (no cool-down time necessary). There are two option: the In-Press system and the Cabinet.

• OptiClean system

This method follows 3 steps in one fully automated cycle: 1) wash the rolls/sleeves with heated chemical cleaner (universal liquid for water-based, solvent-based or UV inks) in a closed circuit. 2) Rinsing with high-pressure water in a closed circuit. 3) Drying with pressured air to avoid calcic marks. There is no need for any further post-treatments. Two rubber rolls (one is driven) are situated on the bottom of the washing machine, the roll/sleeve lies on top of these. Two adapters are used on the sides of the sleeve in order to avoid chemicals or water to get inside. As a chemical cleaning agent a plain waterbased liquid is used. Safe for rolls and sleeves.

If you need cleaning support, feel free to contact your local Apex agent.