Coatings, proper setting of the blade, and properly selecting a doctor blade for your application/press will go a long way toward prolonging the life of the blade.

By Chris Mc Loone

According to Paul Sharkey, president of FLXON Inc., doctor blades have been considered a commodity and were sold and bought as such until recently. “Price was the driving concern. However, over the past few years, an increasing number of flexographic and rotogravure printers have come to realize the importance of using the right doctor blade for their applications.”