Allison Systems Doctor Blades
Allison Systems typically uses steel as their blade material of choice to create high-quality, repeatable doctoring results. That doesn’t mean it is their only option, however. They also offer plastic and composite blade options for gravure and flexo printing and coating applications.
No matter what type of doctor blade you need, you can rest easy knowing that Allison's specialty blades will deliver cost-effective performance and—when properly used—can offer a longer life at high speeds when compared to other materials.
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Metal Doctor Blades
When it comes to doctor blades, nothing beats steel. That is why so many commercial printers turn to Allison 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. They offer various options from their CX and CB blades through their CSV, SS, and even QRP4 options. No matter what type of application you utilize, Allison has the right blade to meet your needs.
White (CX)
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.
Metal Blade 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.
Plastic & Composite Doctor Blades
Just because metal doctor blades might be the industry’s go-to option, that doesn’t mean they are the only ones available to you. You might find that plastic blades or composite blades are better choices for specific equipment and jobs. That is why Allison Systems Corporation is the preferred choice no matter what your preference in doctor blades.
Allison offers an assortment of different doctor blades, containment blades, and end seals for flexo and gravure printing applications to help you get the results you desire. You will find blades made from fiberglass, graphite, Delrin, nylon, UHMW, and even polyester in a variety of different thicknesses.
Fiberglass (FR)
A composite material made from fiberglass for flexo doctor and containment blades on ceramic anilox rolls and abrasive inks. FR provides longer life than carbon steel metal blades with good metering quality. FR is best used with ceramic anilox rolls with <500 LPI screens.
FR is available in 20 mil thicknesses with a SLR (Seal Relief 15°) bevel.
Delrin (DE)
DE can be used in flexo doctor and containment applications that require moderate metering quality. DE provides longer life than carbon steel metal blades and can reduce cut hazards associated with metal blades in chambered applications.
DE is available in 30, 50, and 62 mil thicknesses with UNH (Unhoned), STD (Standard 20°), and SLR (Seal Relief 10°) bevels.
Fiberglass Plus (FRS)
A composite material made from fine weave fiberglass for flexo doctor and containment blades on ceramic anilox rolls and abrasive inks. FRS provides all the features of FR and improved metering quality approaching that of metal blades. FRS can be used with any ceramic anilox.
FRS is available in 14 and 20 mil thicknesses with a SLR (Seal Relief 15°) bevel.
Delrin Plus (DET)
DET can be used in flexo doctor and containment and some gravure applications that require moderate metering quality. DET has all the properties of the DE material with added lubrication for long runs and abrasive inks.
DET is available in 30 mil thickness with UNH (Unhoned), STD (Standard 20°), and SLR (Seal Relief 10°) bevels.
Graphite (GR) Nylon Plus (NY) Mylar (MY)/Polyester (PY) UHMW (PE) Standard (STD) Seal Relief (SLR) Unhoned (UNH)
A composite fiberglass material with added graphite lubricant to extend blade life. For flexo doctor and containment blades on larger ceramic anilox rolls, long runs, and abrasive inks. GR is commonly used for higher-end graphics in corrugated applications.
NY can be used in special gravure applications that don’t require the wipe quality of a metal blade. The lubricant in NY can help extend the life of chrome cylinders.
NY is available in 62 and 90 mil thicknesses with UNH (Unhoned) and STD (Standard 55°) bevels.
MY/PY is a good choice for flexo containment blade applications since it can reduce back doctoring and allow debris to pass by the blade instead of trapping the debris behind the blade like metal blades can. To further allow debris to pass by the blade, use a blade width that is 1/16” to 1/8” wider than the doctoring blade.
MY is available in 7.5 and 14 mil thicknesses with an UNH (Unhoned) edge.
PY is available in 20 mil thickness with an UNH (Unhoned) edge.
PE can be used in corrugated and flexo doctoring applications that have coarse anilox rolls and don’t require the wipe quality of a metal blade as well as flexo containment blades. Since PE material is soft, use with caution because there is a risk of particle embedment that could lead to roll damage.
PE is available in 40, 50, 62, 80, and 90 mil thicknesses with UNH (Unhoned), STD (Standard 45°), and S30 (Standard 30°) bevels.
Plastic and Composite Blade Edge Shapes
A plastic beveled edge shape with a nominal 20° – 55° bevel angle depending on material. Provides good tip support and wiping characteristics.
A plastic or composite material beveled edge shape with a nominal 10° to 15° bevel angle, depending on material. Long bevel profile to help reduce ink leakage past the flexo chamber end seals.
An unhoned plastic blade has a square edge and is typically used for flexo chamber containment blade applications and limited use as flexo doctor blades on low line screen corrugated anilox rolls.