Blade Trade-offs

Meter credos

Supplier perspectives on blade metering capability leave plastics, in particular, a bit behind. Mark Hahn, director of sales and marketing for AAA Press International, Arlington Heights, IL, states in customer tests of doctor blades in narrow-web applications, plastics have shown a tendency to hydroplane, or lift up from the anilox roll, due to their lack of rigidity, while harder, more rigid steel blades actually shear the ink for better metering. He adds that plastic blades' hydroplaning tendencies can lengthen the life of older anilox rolls, providing more volume for achieving desired color hues.