The work aims to propose a multi-motor synchronous control method for adjacent cross-coupled sliding mode variable structure, so as to improve the reliability and control accuracy of gravure printing machine’s electronic axis transmission system. Based on the basic principle of adjacent cross coupling compensation, the adjacent cross coupling control structure was established, and the sliding mode variable structure was introduced to the adjacent cross coupling structure. The chattering was weakened by the saturation function. The simulation results showed that, during the multi-motor synchronous control of improved adjacent cross coupling, the system entered a stable state at 0.004 s. Within the early 0.002 s, synchronization error was subject to certain fluctuation, but generally, the percentage error was very small. Compared with other control strategies, the system synchronization error is small under the control of sliding mode variable structure based on adjacent cross coupling system, with higher synchronization control precision and stronger chattering weakening ability. Meanwhile, the system has strong robustness.