--- title: Working Principle of Stack Type Flexo Printing Machine date: 2026-03-13T09:00:00Z modified: 2026-08-16T07:44:44Z permalink: "https://www.zp-flexopress.com/blog/basic/stack-type-flexo-printing-machine-working-principle/" type: post status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 1140 categories: - basic featured_image: "https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Working-Principle-of-Stack-Type-Flexo-Printing-Machine.webp" featured_image_alt: Working Principle of Stack Type Flexo Printing Machine timestamp: 2026-08-16T07:44:44Z tags: - basic --- ## Quick Answer A stack type flexo printing machine prints by transferring ink from an anilox roller to a flexible plate, then onto the substrate. Each vertically stacked station prints one color, with drying between stations. This configuration reduces floor footprint by up to 40% compared to inline presses. Each station has its own impression cylinder, allowing independent pressure control. RAZP, a trusted manufacturer of CI and Stack flexo printing machines, builds models with ceramic anilox rollers machined to ±0.01 mm concentricity. A stack type flexo printing machine transfers ink from an anilox roller to a flexible printing plate, then onto the substrate as it passes through each vertically stacked color station in sequence. Each station prints one color, with drying between stations before the next color is applied. ## **How the Vertical Stack Configuration Works** In a stack press, color units are arranged vertically on one or both sides of the main frame, typically in 4, 6, or 8 station configurations. The substrate unwinds from a roll, travels upward through each printing unit in sequence, and rewinds into a finished roll after the final drying stage. Each color station operates independently. Impression pressure, ink volume, and registration can be adjusted per station without affecting the others. On a CI press, all color stations share a single central impression cylinder. On a stack press, each station has its own, which gives operators direct control over contact pressure per color. The vertical arrangement reduces floor footprint by up to 40% compared to inline presses. Each station sits open and accessible from the front, which makes plate changes and anilox cleaning faster than on configurations where units are arranged around a central drum. ## **Step by Step: How the Printing Process Works** ### **Substrate Feeding and Tension Control** The substrate feeds into the machine from an unwind roll and passes through tension control rollers before reaching the first print station. These rollers keep the web stable and at consistent tension as it moves through each color unit. Our [RY320 Stack Type Flexographic Printing Machine](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/product/ry320-stack-type-flexographic-printing-machine-customizable.md) runs automatic tension control on both the unwind and rewind units, with an auto EPC web guiding system maintaining consistent web position across the full print repeat range. ### **Inking System and Anilox Roller** ![ceramic anilox roller laser-engraved cells close-up](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ceramic-anilox-roller-laser-engraved-cells-close-up-e1774923433820.jpg) Ink feeds from a reservoir into a closed chamber doctor blade system. The doctor blade sits against the ceramic anilox roller, filling the laser-engraved cells with ink and wiping the roller surface clean so only the measured cell volume carries forward to the plate. Ceramic anilox rollers keep ink volume delivery consistent across the full web width. Our rollers are CNC machined to concentricity within ±0.01 mm, which means the cell geometry stays accurate over a long service life. That precision reduces ink consumption by up to 15% compared to chrome rollers. Chrome roller cells wear over time, transferring inconsistent ink volumes that force operators to run more ink than the job actually needs. ### **Plate Cylinder and Ink Transfer** The anilox roller transfers its measured ink load to the raised surface of the photopolymer printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder. Only the raised image areas pick up ink and carry it forward to the substrate. The plate cylinder rotates against the substrate as it passes through the contact point between the plate and impression cylinder. The impression cylinder applies controlled pressure from the opposite side, pressing the substrate against the inked plate surface to transfer the image. ### **Inter-Station Drying** After each color station, the substrate passes through a drying unit before reaching the next station. This prevents wet ink from one color contaminating the plate or substrate at the next station, which would cause color mixing and smearing. For water-based inks on absorbent materials like paper, electrical heating drying systems handle the job at moderate speeds. For non-absorbent films where the press is running faster, IR or UV/LED drying cures the ink before the substrate reaches the next unit. ### **Final Drying and Rewinding** After the last color station, the substrate passes through a final drying stage to fully cure all ink layers. The rewind unit then winds the finished substrate into a roll, with automatic tension control keeping roll quality consistent through to the end of the job. ## **Key Components and What Each Does** - **Ceramic anilox roller:** Laser-engraved cells hold and transfer a precise ink volume to the plate surface. CNC machining holds concentricity to ±0.01 mm for consistent ink delivery across the run - **Doctor blade:** Wipes excess ink from the anilox surface, leaving only the cell volume for transfer. Closed chamber systems reduce ink waste and contamination - **Plate cylinder:** Carries the photopolymer printing plate. Hydraulic adjustment controls impression pressure against the substrate - **Impression cylinder:** Applies controlled pressure per station to transfer the image from the plate to the substrate - **PLC touchscreen control:** Manages speed, tension, registration, and drying parameters from a single interface - **Auto EPC web guiding:** Keeps the substrate tracking straight through each station, which is critical for registration accuracy on thin or stretchable films ## **Substrates and Applications** Stack presses run reliably on a wide range of materials because each station controls impression independently. Common substrates include PE, PP, BOPP, PET, kraft paper, non-woven fabric, and aluminum foil. Typical applications: - Flexible packaging for food and consumer goods - Shopping bags and kraft paper bags - Labels and wrappers - Tissue and hygiene product packaging For label-specific production, our [flexo label printing machine](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/product/flexo-label-printing-machine.md) runs up to 180 m/min across web widths from 360 mm to 680 mm, with 4 to 12 color configurations and 3 die cutting stations built in. Product Card – Flexo Label Printing Machine /\* — 产品卡片基础样式 — \*/ .product-card { display: flex; align-items: stretch; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; border-radius: 8px; padding: 20px; margin: 20px 0; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08); max-width: 900px; background-color: #ffffff; font-family: ‘Poppins’, sans-serif; } /\* 左侧图片 30% \*/ .product-card .card-image { flex: 0 0 30%; max-width: 30%; margin-right: 25px; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; } .product-card .card-image img { width: 100%; height: auto; max-height: 200px; display: block; border-radius: 4px; object-fit: contain; } /\* 右侧内容 70% \*/ .product-card .card-content { flex: 1 1 70%; width: 70%; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; } /\* 标题 \*/ .product-card .product-title { margin-top: 0; font-size: 1.4em; color: #222222; line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 12px; font-weight: 600; } /\* 参数描述排版 \*/ .product-card .product-description { font-size: 0.92em; color: #444444; margin: 0 0 20px 0; line-height: 1.6; } .product-card .product-description strong { color: #333; font-weight: 600; } /\* 按钮 – 主题色 #0E6EB8 \*/ .product-card .view-product-button { display: inline-block; padding: 10px 28px; background-color: #0E6EB8; color: #ffffff; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 1em; font-weight: 500; text-align: center; transition: all 0.3s ease; align-self: flex-start; box-shadow: 0 2px 4px rgba(14, 110, 184, 0.2); } /\* 按钮交互 – 交互色 #f8b62a \*/ .product-card .view-product-button:hover { background-color: #f8b62a; color: #ffffff; transform: translateY(-1px); box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15); } /\* 响应式调整 \*/ @media (max-width: 768px) { .product-card { flex-direction: column; text-align: center; padding: 15px; } .product-card .card-image { width: 100%; max-width: 280px; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; } .product-card .card-content { width: 100%; } .product-card .view-product-button { align-self: center; } } ![](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Stack-Type-Flexographic-Printing-Machine-4-6-8-Colors-150m-min-Ceramic-Anilox-Roller-%E2%80%93-1.webp) Stack Type Flexographic Printing Machine **Colours:** 4/6/8 Colors **Max. material width:** 1000mm, 1200mm, 1400mm, 1600mm **Max. printing width:** 950mm, 1150mm, 1350mm, 1550mm **Printing length:** 280−1000mm **Printing speed:** 50-180m/min [ Learn More ](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/product/stack-type-flexographic-printing-machine-4-6-8-colors-150m-min-ceramic-anilox-roller.md) ## **Sourcing and Configuration Options** Buyers sourcing stack flexo roll printing machine [wholesale supply from China](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/factory.md) benefit from factory-direct pricing, shorter lead times, and direct access to engineering support during setup and commissioning. We produce 50 presses per year from our 50,000 m² facility in Rui’an, Wenzhou, with delivery in one to three months and procurement costs averaging 20% lower than European suppliers. As one of the established stack type flexo printing machine suppliers in China, RAZP configures each press to the buyer’s substrate, speed, and color requirements. Options include 4, 6, or 8 color stations, material widths up to 1,600 mm, drying system selection, and automation level from manual register through to full servo-driven tension and EPC control. If you need equipment on a shorter timeline, contact our team to check which stack-type flexo printing machine in stock configurations are available for your web width and color count. [Get a Quote](https://www.zp-flexopress.com/wp-content/uploads/wp-mfa-exports/page/contact.md) ## **Frequently Asked Questions** **How does a stack flexo press differ from a CI press?** Each color station on a stack press has its own impression cylinder, giving independent pressure control per color. A CI press uses one central drum supporting the substrate through all stations, which gives better registration on thin stretchy films but less flexibility for mixed substrate jobs. **What substrates can a stack type flexo printing machine handle?** PE, PP, BOPP, PET, kraft paper, non-woven fabric, and aluminum foil. Each station adjusts impression independently, which allows the press to handle materials that vary in thickness or surface texture. **Why do ceramic anilox rollers reduce ink consumption?** The laser-engraved cell geometry stays accurate over a longer service life than chrome rollers. Consistent cell volume means the press delivers the right ink load every time rather than overtransferring to compensate for worn cells.