4:00 Digital printing continues to give commercial printers greater flexibility in the types of work they can produce. The finishing process needs that same flexibility. For PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, Harris & Bruno partnered with HP and GPA to produce a new sample kit featuring print from the HP Indigo 18K Digital Press, coating from the Harris & Bruno ExcelCoat ZRE, and GPA Symbol Freelife 150# Matte Cover. Built around a Las Vegas theme for the show, the colle

When coating quality changes, the first place operators often look is the coating chemistry, anilox roll, dryer settings, or press speed. But there is another part of the process that can have just as much influence on consistent production: how the coating is being circulated. A coating system needs to do more than move fluid from a container to the application point. It needs to deliver coating consistently, maintain the right operating conditions, and keep the entire proce

A coating can look great on a technical data sheet, but its real performance is determined on press. Viscosity, transfer volume, anilox engraving, circulation, drying, substrate, and application speed all influence how a coating behaves once it enters production. When the chemistry and the equipment are treated as two separate pieces of the process, printers can be left making adjustments to get them to work together. Harris & Bruno takes a different approach. Our experience

Earlier today at the Printing United Expo 2026, Harris & Bruno announced the ExcelCoat ZRE, a new compact sheet coating system designed to bring chamber-anilox coating technology to a wider range of digital print environments. The ZRE was developed for printers that want to add coating capability without stepping into the footprint, automation, or investment level of a larger production system. It gives commercial printers and digital print providers a practical way to bring

When a coating system needs maintenance, the goal is not simply to get it running again, but to understand what caused the issue, restore consistent performance, and help prevent the same problem from interrupting production in the future. That is where manufacturer-direct service can make a difference. Harris & Bruno technicians work with the systems they know best, bringing equipment-specific knowledge, proper diagnostics, and recommendations tailored to each customer’s app

High-speed inkjet has changed what printers can accomplish in a production environment. As press speeds increase, every step that follows the press needs to keep up. That includes coating. Harris & Bruno recently collaborated with HP and Billerud to create a new sample kit designed to showcase what coating can add to high-speed web production. The collection features ten different cards, each highlighting a different Aqueous or UV coating across imagery inspired by destinatio

End seals may be one of the smallest components in a coating chamber, but they have a direct impact on how well that chamber performs. Because seals are considered a consumable, it can be tempting to treat them as a commodity and purchase the lowest-cost replacement available. The challenge is that a seal that looks close enough is not necessarily engineered to fit or perform the same way as the OEM part. A small savings on the seal itself can quickly disappear when poor fit

A Small Cost With a Big Business Impact Printers are always looking for ways to increase job value without adding major cost, complexity, or production time. Specialty papers, inks, and finishing techniques can all improve a piece, but they can also significantly raise the cost of production. Coating offers a simpler path. For a fraction of a penny per sheet, coating can improve appearance, protect the printed surface, and make the final product feel more valuable. That makes

Coating often comes at the end of the print process, but the decisions made at that stage can have a major impact on production efficiency, durability, sustainability, and the value of the finished piece. On September 3 at 8am PST, Harris & Bruno’s Paul Furse and Juan Soto will join Dscoop’s Peter Van Teeseling for a live webinar focused on the growing role of water-based coating in digital print. The conversation will explore where coating can provide an alternative to lamin

Consistent coating depends on the anilox roll transferring the correct amount of coating on every sheet. When engraved cells become plugged, contaminated, or worn, that transfer becomes less predictable. Operators may begin increasing coating flow, adjusting press settings, or slowing production to compensate. These changes may temporarily improve the finished sheet, but they do not address the underlying problem. Over time, the result can be higher coating consumption, incon

Vibrant color may capture attention, but the right coating determines how a printed piece looks, feels, and performs in the hands of the customer. Released at thINK 2026, the Canon varioPRINT iX3200 Coating Capabilities Pack was created to demonstrate how different coating finishes can transform high-quality inkjet print. Featuring rich confectionery imagery, the collection gives printers a hands-on way to compare soft touch, gloss, matte, and other coating effects across the

Harris & Bruno is heading to Las Vegas for PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place September 23-25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center! The three-day event brings commercial print, packaging, mailing, wide-format, apparel, and other print markets together to explore the technologies shaping the industry. This year at Booth N6061, H&B will highlight coating samples produced across our growing portfolio of sheetfed and web coating solutions, including the sheet fed ZR, high-spee

Anilox rolls play a critical role in consistent coating application. When dried coating, residue, or contamination begins to build inside the engraved cells, the roll can no longer transfer the intended coating volume evenly. This can lead to reduced gloss levels, inconsistent coverage, streaking, and unnecessary adjustments to your press settings. What may appear to be a production issue can often be traced back to a roll that is no longer transferring coating efficiently. R

Most coating system issues begin as small performance inconsistencies caused by gradual wear, coating buildup, aging components, or neglected maintenance that slowly impact overall system reliability over time. Operators may spend more time troubleshooting while coating quality becomes less predictable. In many cases, these issues continue growing because the system is not being evaluated by the people who understand it best. Harris & Bruno technicians know the equipment insi

A leaking coating chamber can quickly turn a routine production run into a costly cleanup. Coating dripping onto the press, inconsistent application, excessive consumption, and unexpected downtime are all signs that the chamber is no longer sealing or operating as intended. While the leak itself may appear to be the problem, it is usually a symptom of another issue within the chamber, blade, seal, or coating delivery system. Understanding where leaks begin can help operators

The Hidden Costs of Leaving Print Unprotected When a printed sheet comes off the press, it may look perfect. Rich color, crisp detail, and a clean finish can make it seem ready for delivery. But the journey from the pressroom to the customer's hands is where many printed pieces begin to lose their impact. So what happens when you don’t coat? Without a protective coating, printed materials are exposed to everyday handling, transportation, and environmental conditions that can

When it comes to coating performance, the right anilox roll can make all the difference. Whether you're developing a new application, testing a specialty coating, or looking to improve an existing process, selecting the right engraving is critical to achieving the results you're after. The challenge is that it can be difficult to know exactly which specifications will work best without running real-world trials. That's why Harris & Bruno offers our Anilox Loaner Roll Program*

The 2026 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards and Print Embellishment Conference was a huge success for Harris & Bruno, our partners, and the growing digital embellishment community. This year, the H&B team was proud to take home eight awards for embellishments produced on the ZRX Digital Embellishment Press, with the help of some amazing partners and designers, across a variety of categories. Each award represents the creativity, collaboration, and technical execution that continue to push

Do you know the long-term impact a chamber blade can have on coating consistency, operator safety, anilox life, and overall production costs? The reality is that not all doctor blades wear the same, meter the same, or carry the same risks. While blade price is often the easiest number to compare, the true cost of a doctor blade is measured by its effect on the entire coating process. A Critical Part of the Coating Process The doctor blade plays a critical role in the coating

Some print pieces are designed to be seen. Others are designed to be experienced. That is exactly what made Feel the Drop such a standout collaboration between Branded By Woods, DSCOOP, and Harris & Bruno. Centered around Larry the Bear and built as a card nested inside a folded envelope, the piece was designed to create interaction from the very first touch. It combined bold printed design, layered embellishment, and tactile storytelling in a way that felt playful, immersive