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 ; and first and second bearings 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 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 ; and first and second bearings 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 ; and first and second bearings 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 of the first and second end walls extend into the first and second recessed bearing contact zones of the anilox member, respectively. <EOS>