An inking system configured to transfer ink to a flexographic printing plate of a flexographic printing system, the inking system comprising: an anilox member having a cylindrical outer surface, the outer surface including: a first recessed bearing contact zone; a second recessed bearing contact zone; and an ink transfer zone located between the first and second recessed bearing contact zones, the ink transfer zone having a plurality of cells, the cells being indentations in the outer surface of the anilox member configured to transfer ink to the flexographic printing plate; wherein a radius of the outer surface in the first and second recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the outer surface in the ink transfer zone; and an ink tray assembly, including: an ink tray having a floor and first and second end walls (462, 464); and first and second bearings (470, 472) mounted outside of the first and second end walls of the ink tray, respectively; wherein the first and second bearings engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the anilox member; wherein upper edges (466, 468) of the first and second end walls extend into the first and second recessed bearing contact zones of the anilox member, respectively. an anilox member having a cylindrical outer surface, the outer surface including: a first recessed bearing contact zone; a second recessed bearing contact zone; and an ink transfer zone located between the first and second recessed bearing contact zones, the ink transfer zone having a plurality of cells, the cells being indentations in the outer surface of the anilox member configured to transfer ink to the flexographic printing plate; wherein a radius of the outer surface in the first and second recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the outer surface in the ink transfer zone; and a first recessed bearing contact zone; a second recessed bearing contact zone; and an ink transfer zone located between the first and second recessed bearing contact zones, the ink transfer zone having a plurality of cells, the cells being indentations in the outer surface of the anilox member configured to transfer ink to the flexographic printing plate; wherein a radius of the outer surface in the first and second recessed bearing contact zones is less than a radius of the outer surface in the ink transfer zone; and an ink tray assembly, including: an ink tray having a floor and first and second end walls (462, 464); and first and second bearings (470, 472) mounted outside of the first and second end walls of the ink tray, respectively; wherein the first and second bearings engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the anilox member; an ink tray having a floor and first and second end walls (462, 464); and first and second bearings (470, 472) mounted outside of the first and second end walls of the ink tray, respectively; wherein the first and second bearings engage with the first and second bearing contact zones, respectively, thereby positioning the ink tray assembly in a specified position relative to the anilox member; wherein upper edges (466, 468) of the first and second end walls extend into the first and second recessed bearing contact zones of the anilox member, respectively.