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

Extending the life of the blade

Long-life blades come in many forms. They are typically harder than standard blades and offer various surface coatings and treatments that reduce the wear rate, providing the required onpress life to accommodate faster speeds and longer print runs. “As more and more flexo converters acquire gearless press technology, some new demands are being put on doctor blades,” says Foley. “Gearless machines are typically running at production speeds that are 50 to 150 percent faster than conventional geared presses. These elevated speeds wear doctor blades quicker and depending on the average run length of jobs, the converter may have to investigate a premium long-life doctor blade.”