Abstract: To provide for smooth running of a plate cylinder with respect to associated rollers or cylinders, such as the blanket cylinder of an offset printing machine, the plate cylinder is formed with an engagement surface (3, 4) including an angle of less than 45.degree. with respect to the tangent of the plate cylinder at the intersection of the engagement surface and the cylindrical surface of the plate cylinder, and cover strips (8, 9) fitting over the plate and having an outer radius of curvature which corresponds to the radius of curvature of the plate cylinder with the plate (7) stretched thereover. The engagement surfaces are formed with holding pins (5, 6) to receive the plate. The outer surface of the cover strips, typically of steel, is hydrophilic and ink-rejecting, for example being knurled, roughened, or granulated to provide for clean margins, the length of the engagement surfaces matching the minimum margin adjacent the subject matter to be printed.