For converters, a high-gloss finish on chromed rolls is imperative. Especially in situations where these rollers are in contact with hot plastics, if the chrome is dull, the plastic finish will appear dull and "un-glossy," Menges emphasizes.
The new re-grinding and re-chroming services being offered by Menges will help converters maintain their product quality – but they're also cost-effective repairs, the company continues. "Readers," it adds, "should realize that, most of the time, chromed rollers tend to be expensive chill rolls or heat-transfer rolls (double-shelled and liquid-filled). Replacing these rollers can be quite costly, so converting managers are usually happy to find they can be refinished for a fraction of the cost of replacement."
Few roller companies offer precision cylindrical grinding and re-chroming. However, Menges Roller has invested heavily in computer controlled outside diameter finishing machines that are capable of achieving diameter tolerances within one one-thousandth of an inch. For most converting operations, rollers must have very exact dimensions to function properly, Menges says.
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