Doctoring Blade Selection

The right blade for the right application

One trend in the doctor blade market is selecting specialized blades for specific applications. “Printers no longer use a universal blade throughout the process, and it is not uncommon for a plant to use steel, plastic, and coated blades within the same press.” Lichon adds, “With the ever-increasing selection of doctoring blades available, we feel it is unfair to the customer for suppliers to pigeonhole a certain blade for only a particular application. The buyer needs to strive for the maximum return on investment when choosing doctor blade material.” To that end, Lichon suggests printers ask their suppliers for a variety of blade materials to test. “This will allow you to obtain firsthand knowledge of each blade material’s performance when used for your specific application and conditions,” he says.