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Cylinder Engraving
Cylinder Engraving
Artwork is engraved directly onto chrome-plated copper cylinders, one cylinder per colour. Enables extremely fine dot reproduction and consistent ink cell depth across the print run.
Capabilities · Gravure Printing
Gravure Printing for Premium Flexible Packaging.
In-house rotogravure printing for premium flexible packaging — photographic print quality, up to 12 colours, hygiene and medical grade, FOB Xiamen.
12c
Colour Stations
1,750mm
Max Print Width
200 LPI
Resolution
PROCESS · GRAVURE-01
UP TO 1,750 mm WEB
[ Press Photo ]
Gravure Line
Quanzhou Plant
Gravure Line
Quanzhou Plant
12-Colour Rotogravure · Copper Cylinder
01 — Overview
Gravure printing — also called rotogravure printing — transfers ink directly from engraved copper cylinders onto flexible packaging substrate, producing photographic-quality print reproduction with exceptional colour density and consistency. Tansox runs gravure printing in-house at the Quanzhou facility: the preferred process for long-run premium hygiene and medical packaging where colour accuracy and fine detail are critical.
02 — How It Works
Four stages, one continuous gravure run.
From artwork approval to inspected, registered film — every job runs through the same four-stage workflow on our gravure lines in Quanzhou.
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Substrate Feeding
Substrate Feeding
Film substrate is loaded onto the gravure press, tensioned and registered for accurate placement across the full print width.
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Ink Transfer
Ink Transfer
The engraved cylinder picks up solvent-based ink and transfers it directly to the substrate — producing richer colour density and finer detail than flexographic printing.
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Drying & Inspection
Drying & Inspection
The printed web passes through solvent recovery drying units, then 100% vision inspection for colour consistency and registration accuracy before rewinding.
03 — Technical Specifications
The gravure manufacturing window.
The table below covers our standard rotogravure production window. Share your substrate, repeat length and colour count and we'll confirm feasibility.
Press Diagram
[ Technical Drawing ]
Gravure Press — Cylinder & Ink Stations
Gravure Press — Cylinder & Ink Stations
REF · DWG-GRAVURE-2026
- Max Print WidthUp to 1,750 mm web width. Repeat length set per cylinder, confirmed at pre-press stage.
- Colour StationsUp to 12 colours per run — Pantone-matched with dedicated engraved cylinders per colour.
- Ink TypesSolvent-Based Gravure
- SubstratesBOPPPETPEFoil LaminateMetallised Film
- Print ResolutionUp to 200 LPI — photographic dot reproduction with consistent ink cell depth.
- Minimum OrderConfirm with sales — cylinder engraving tooling cost applies per colour.
04 — What We Produce
Six products from our gravure lines.
05 — Suitable Markets
Gravure for premium hygiene & medical packaging.
Tansox gravure printing ships globally for category leaders in baby care, feminine hygiene and medical packaging where photographic print quality is a brand requirement.
06 — Quality & Certifications
Inspected at every station, certified at every run.
Five quality checkpoints applied to every gravure order:
- Print QualityPhotographic-quality print reproduction with consistent colour density across long runs.
- Colour ManagementColour management against Pantone and brand colour standards. Pre-production colour proof approval required before cylinder commit.
- Vision Inspection100% in-line vision inspection on gravure lines for colour consistency and registration accuracy.
- CertificationEACC Quality Management Certified — Cert No. 11423Q46251R0M, valid until 2028.
- Ink ComplianceInk systems compliant with food contact regulations where applicable — confirm requirement with sales.
07 — Why Tansox
Half a century of gravure, one factory floor.
50 Years Manufacturing Experience
Established ~1975 in Quanzhou, Fujian. Deep experience with gravure printing for hygiene and medical packaging across three generations of press operators.
EACC Quality Management Certified
Cert No. 11423Q46251R0M, valid until 2028. Every production lot ships with COA, retain samples and gravure colour-match reports.
In-House End-to-End Production
Gravure printing, lamination, converting and slitting all under one roof in Quanzhou. No outsourced processes, no inter-factory handling.
08 — Frequently Asked
Questions buyers ask before quote.
Gravure printing engraves ink cells directly into copper cylinders, producing richer colour density and finer print detail than flexographic printing. It is the preferred choice for long-run premium packaging where photographic image reproduction, fine gradients and consistent colour density across millions of units are required. Flexographic printing is more cost-effective at shorter runs because plate costs are lower than gravure cylinder engraving costs.
There is no fixed unit MOQ for gravure printing, but cylinder engraving is a one-time tooling cost per colour that makes gravure more cost-effective at longer runs. Typical gravure runs start from 50,000–100,000 units depending on format and structure. Confirm your quantity with our sales team for a gravure vs flexo cost comparison.
Tansox gravure printing runs on BOPP, PET, PE, foil laminate and metallised film substrates up to 1,750 mm wide. Substrate selection is confirmed based on the laminate structure, barrier requirement and end product application.
