An apparatus for producing printing plates on a supporting cylinder is provided. Mountings arranged on a frame accommodate a blank printing plate arranged on a supporting cylinder. The supporting cylinder is driven by a motor. The apparatus allows the supporting cylinder to be exposed at an end opposite the motor by its journal together with the mounting accommodating the journal. Thus, the supporting cylinder is capable of being moved away from the frame at one end, which makes it possible to draw the printing plate axially off the supporting cylinder. The apparatus can be used to produce a variety of printing plates, including: a relief printing plate, an offset printing plate, a sleeve-like printing plate, and a gravure printing plate.