A recent development is GL&V’s GRICoater (Gate Roll Inversion Coater, previously the Metering Roll Coater). It has 2 modes of operation: - As a film press coater, but with an additional “inversion” metering roll (of slightly smaller diameter) between the color applicator roll and each roll applying the coating to the paper web (which follows an upwards path). (In this mode, all rolls are kissing, and the paper web and coating color both follow the normal film press coater paths - diagram above). Color film thickness range is wide (2.5-30 µm), with thin films being used when applying low coat weights at high solids. The 2 additional rolls rotate significantly more slowly than the main rolls, thus reducing streaks and providing an additional parameter for coat weight control. The choice of color applicator includes a large smooth rod (eg: 35 mm dia) and a double tube-loaded blade. (…) - The ability to blade coat both sides, at a single pass through the station, is available in the Omni Coat mode. The paper run is as shown in the GRICoater diagram. There is now an SDTA blade head directly coating each side of the web. The infrared dryers, that provide 2-sided drying for the GRICoater as a film press coater, are slid apart to dry 1 side immediately after each SDTA head.
