BCM Print Plate Storage System
BCM Flexo Printing Plate Storage System
A flexo printing plate storage system keeps your flexo plates and flexo stereos organized, protected and ready for the next job. Hitek Equipment supplies BCM print plate storage solutions to corrugated, folding carton and flexible packaging printers across North America, from a single manual rack to a fully automatic vertical storage system.
Hanging plates on stereo profiles instead of stacking them in boxes protects them from damage and helps extend plate life. Operators can find, store plates and return them faster, which supports press performance and keeps changeovers moving.
Systems can store up to 315 print plates in under 10 feet of space, 630 if the system is two levels, and even more if you want additional levels.
Do you have a multi-color machine? The ASP-8 Profiles can hold 8 plates that can be delivered as a group to your machine! This is the first ever fully-automatic print plate storage system for multi-color operations. The BCM Print Plate Storage System can be configured to go around obstacles, doorways and walkways. Our two-level storage systems take advantage of expensive floor space by elevating your storage.
| Stores more plates in less space than any other system on the market. | |
| Protects plates from damage caused by storing them in boxes or moving conveyors. | |
| Manual, semi-automatic, or fully automatic, the choice is yours. | |
| Grows with your plant, start small and grow big! |
Flexo Printing Plate Storage System Specifications
Every BCM system is configured to your plate sizes, inventory and floor space. These specifications show the range available:
| Automation levels | Manual (PrimeRack PX and PrimeStorage), semi-automatic (SmartStorage) and fully automatic (AutoStorage) |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Up to 315 print plates in under 10 feet of space, 630 with a two-level system, and more with additional levels |
| Plates per profile | 8 (ASP8), 12, 15, 18 or 21 plates, depending on the stereo profile |
| Profile types | ASP8, KLR-12, KLR-15, KLR-18, KLR-21 and ME-18, designed to fit printing plates with Matthew strips |
| Manual module (KLR-15) | Up to 15 profiles, or 225 plates, in a module approximately 2,800 mm (about 9 ft) wide |
| System height | Manual: 2.5–8 m (8–26 ft). Semi-automatic and fully automatic: 2.5–10 m (8–33 ft) |
| Levels | Single or double level for manual racks; 2–7 levels (SmartStorage) and 3–7 levels (AutoStorage), depending on plate size |
| Plate tracking | ASP8 profiles carry a unique RFID chip, and SmartStorage and AutoStorage use a touchscreen PC with a storage database |
| Layout | Can be configured around obstacles, doorways and walkways; AutoStorage length is unlimited, so it grows with your plant |
Exact storage capacity, levels and footprint depend on your plate dimensions and the profile type selected. Hitek will confirm them for your specific plates before you order.
Which System Fits Your Plant?
Smaller plants and limited floor space
A PrimeRack PX manual storage system is a compact, customizable rack that can sit right next to the press. Plates hang naturally on mounted profiles, the rack height adjusts to your plate sizes, and operators slide plates onto BCM transport trolleys to move them between storage and production. It is available as a single-level or two-level rack.
Mid-size plants with a growing plate inventory
KLR-15 profiles are BCM’s best-selling option for manual storage, with extra spacing for large, heavy plates. A standard module holds 225 plates, and a two-level layout uses vertical storage to save expensive floor space. Add modules as your inventory grows.
High-volume and multi-color operations
SmartStorage adds a semi-automatic crane: the operator selects a plate on a touchscreen and the system finds the storage location and lifts it under control. AutoStorage is fully automatic. Jobs are queued on a touchscreen PC, and ASP8 profiles hold up to 8 plates, so all the plates for a multi-color job are delivered to your machine as a group.
Plants storing plates, dies and sleeves
BCM also offers combined storage for printing plates with flatbed dies and rotary dies, plus semi-automatic sleeve storage. This flexibility lets you plan one storage area for all of your tooling.
Plate Storage Best Practices
- Store plates vertically on profiles rather than flat in boxes to prevent damage.
- Keep every plate for a job together on the same profile so the full set reaches the press at once.
- Give each plate its own identified storage location and track it in a database.
- Clean plates before storage with a CleanFlex print plate cleaner.
- Choose a system with spare storage capacity so you are ready for new jobs.
Not sure which type is right for your plant? Contact Hitek Equipment with your plate sizes and inventory, and our Kenosha, WI team will recommend a configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is BCM equipment, and what does BCM manufacture?
BCM manufactures equipment and systems for industrial applications, including solutions used in corrugated converting and packaging production. Depending on the product category, these solutions can address tooling storage, handling, organization, and print plate cleaning.
For corrugated manufacturers, proper management of cutting dies and print plates can be an important part of maintaining an efficient production environment. Equipment designed specifically for these tasks can help organize valuable tooling, improve accessibility, and reduce unnecessary handling.
Hitek Equipment supplies selected BCM equipment and can help manufacturers explore solutions that fit their operational requirements.
Contact Hitek to discuss your current tooling storage, handling, or cleaning challenges and identify which BCM products may be appropriate for your facility.
How many print plates can fit in a high-density storage system?
The capacity of a high-density print plate storage system depends on the plate dimensions, mounting system, storage configuration, and available space.
Certain BCM print plate storage configurations have been advertised as accommodating up to 315 plates in less than 10 feet of space. Actual capacity and the space required should be confirmed for the specific system and print plate configuration being considered.
High-density print plate storage can help corrugated manufacturers organize their plates, improve accessibility, and make more efficient use of production floor space.
When evaluating a system, consider your current inventory, future storage needs, plate sizes, mounting requirements, and how frequently operators retrieve plates.
Contact Hitek Equipment to discuss your print plate inventory and determine which storage configuration may be suitable for your facility.
What is a flexo printing plate storage system?
A flexo printing plate storage system is a rack or automated storage unit that holds flexo plates and flexo stereos on profiles so they stay organized and protected between print jobs.
BCM systems range from manual racks to semi-automatic and fully automatic vertical storage, and they help printers find plates faster and protect plate life.
Which BCM plate storage system is right for my plant size?
Smaller plants often start with a PrimeRack PX manual storage system next to the press. Mid-size plants typically use manual modules with KLR-15 profiles, which hold 225 plates per module.
High-volume and multi-color operations benefit from semi-automatic SmartStorage or fully automatic AutoStorage, which deliver all of a job’s plates to the press together.
Can plates, dies and sleeves be stored together?
Yes. BCM offers combined systems that store printing plates with flatbed dies, rotary dies, or both, as well as semi-automatic sleeve storage.
Hitek Equipment can help you plan one storage layout for all of your tooling.