Industrial Printing Process Queries, ZQA

Doctor Blade Wear: Cost and Quality Impact

What quality problems does Doctor Blade damage cause, and how does it increase overall printing costs?

Any wear, damage, or incorrect adjustment of the Doctor Blade leads to a sharp increase in ink consumption and subsequently higher direct production costs. This also elevates the risk of defects like Dirty Print and smearing. The technical result of these issues is reduced control over Color Density and, ultimately, darker-than-expected print. From a consultant's perspective, incorrect Doctor Blade settings can effectively alter the ink transfer curve. Ensuring the accuracy and quality of the Doctor Blade and its settings is a preventive strategy to preserve the most expensive part of the press (the cylinders) and prevent losses from press downtime and a severe drop in print quality.

Aligned with: ISO 12647-6 (Flexography) / G7 / Gravure Process Standards