Metal Doctor Blades for Commercial Printing
When it comes to doctor blades, nothing beats steel. That is why so many commercial printers turn to us when they want to upgrade the metal blades in their gravure or flexo printing systems.
Allison Systems Corporation is proud to offer metal doctor blades that are built to last. We offer various options from our CX and CB blades through our CSV, SS, and even QRP4 options. No matter what type of application you utilize, we have the right blade to meet your needs. Contact us to learn more about our metal blades and anilox roll cleaner products.
The most common carbon steel blade material is high quality steel with economical life and excellent metallurgical properties. CX has a bright, polished metallic appearance and can be used in all gravure and flexo doctoring and containment applications.
CX is available in 6, 8, and 10 mil thicknesses with RND (Rounded), STD (Standard), and SUP (Superhoned®) bevels. Other options may be available.
Gold (QRE)
Tool steel with optimized microstructure for extreme wear applications. QRE is proven to last at least 5 to 10 times longer than CX material and can help reduce spitting problems with UV inks and reduce anilox scoring issues. QRE has a gold metallic appearance and is mainly used in flexo doctoring applications with ceramic or chrome anilox rolls. Gravure customers with very long-run jobs or any high wear application can also benefit by using this material.
QRE is available in 6, 8, 10, 12, and 20 mil thicknesses with RND (Rounded), STD (Standard), and SUP (Superhoned®) bevels. Not all bevels are available in all thicknesses.
Blue (CB)
This is CX material with a blue oxide layer that helps to identify the beveled edge. CB can be used everywhere CX is used.
CB is available in 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 18, and 20 mil thicknesses with UNH (Unhoned), RND (Rounded), STD (Standard), and SUP (Superhoned®) bevels. Not all bevels are available in all thicknesses and other options may be available.
White Plus (CXP4)
White carbon steel material, CX, with a precision low-friction metallic coating for difficult Flexo and Gravure doctoring applications. This material is not recommended to be used in Flexo containment applications. CXP4 is beneficial when running chrome gravure cylinders with minimal engraving since the coating helps to provide lubrication between the blade and cylinder and reduce haze and streaking issues. The coating will also provide corrosion resistance when used with water-based inks.
CXP4 is available in 8 mil thickness with SUS (Superhoned® Plus) bevel.
Silver (CSV)
A carbon steel blade material with enhanced chemical composition to provide a microstructure with more and finer carbides compared to CX material. The result is better wear resistance leading to longer blade life. CSV also has increased levels of chromium which enhances corrosion resistance when used with water based inks. CSV has a bright, polished metallic appearance and can be used in all gravure and flexo doctoring and containment applications.
CSV is available in 8 mil thickness with RND (Rounded), STD (Standard), and SUP (Superhoned®) bevels. Other options may be available.
Gold Plus (QREP)
Special tool steel metallurgy with very long life, QRE, and a precision low-friction metallic coating for difficult Flexo and Gravure applications. This material is not recommended to be used in Flexo containment applications. QREP is beneficial when running chrome gravure cylinders with minimal engraving since the coating helps to provide lubrication between the blade and cylinder and reduce haze and streaking issues. The coating will also provide corrosion resistance when used with water-based inks.
QREP is available in 8 mil thickness with SUS (Superhoned® Plus) bevel.
Stainless (SS)
All of the quality properties of CX material with the added corrosion resistance of stainless steel needed for certain applications. SS has a bright, polished metallic appearance and can be used in all gravure and flexo doctoring and containment applications.
SS is available in 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 mil thicknesses with RND (Rounded), STD (Standard), and SUP (Superhoned®) bevels. Not all bevels are available in all thicknesses and other options may be available.
Edge Shapes
Standard (STD)
A beveled edge shape with a nominal 15° bevel angle.
Some inks or cylinder conditions require the more rigid tip for maximum cylinder clean-up that the Standard bevel provides. The thin initial tip of the Standard bevel will provide quick startups and works well for short run work.
Rounded (RND)
A rounded edge blade offers a strong, rigid, precision polished working edge that is not easily damaged at an economical price. The rounded edge shape is suitable for lower screen ceramic anilox rolls (generally <500 lpi), very abrasive inks, or where maximum anilox clean-up is not required. Rounded edge blades are typically not recommended for gravure applications.
Superhoned® (SUP)
A beveled edge shape with a nominal 4.5° bevel angle. The long bevel provides effective tip deflection and contact angle control under applied blade loading forces with minimal tip growth as the blade wears.
Unhoned (UNH)
An unhoned blade has a square edge and is typically used only for backer blade applications.
Superhoned® Plus (SUS)
A beveled edge shape with a nominal 2.2° bevel angle. The very long bevel provides the same force control features of the Superhoned® shape with even less tip growth as the blade wears.