Doctors Do Lots

For demanding high-wear, flexo applications, Allison says that tool steel and laser-hardened-tip tool steel are often more cost-effective than either quality carbon steel or plastic options. "Very long life, and metal that won't attach itself to ceramic anilox rolls are the key," he says. "The option of special ceramic coatings on steel blades has shown its merit in some extremely demanding high-speed, high-abrasion flexo applications."