Method of manufacturing a printing cylinder

A method of manufacturing a printing cylinder, the method comprising:

• providing a moulding apparatus comprising a cylindrical moulding vessel defining a moulding cavity, the vessel comprising at least one inlet for the ingress of moulding material;
• performing an injection moulding operation comprising:
• injecting moulding material through the at least one inlet to substantially fill the moulding cavity with moulding material;
• and effecting hardening of the moulding material within the vessel;
• and
• removing the printing cylinder, wherein at least part of the injection moulding operation is performed in the presence of an active pressure being applied to the moulding cavity;
• wherein the active pressure is applied, at least in part, through control of the injection of the moulding material through the at least one inlet,
• wherein injecting moulding material through the at least one inlet comprises controlling the injection of the moulding material such that mould flow fronts of the injected moulding material collide in a way that generates a plurality of staggered weld lines on the printing cylinder, and
• wherein the at least one inlet comprises a plurality of inlets, and wherein injecting the moulding material comprises sequentially injecting moulding material through the different ones of the plurality of inlets according to a pre-set sequence.