Introducing the ExcelCoat ZRE: Compact Chamber-Anilox Coating
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 aqueous and UV coating in-house while maintaining the process control that chamber-anilox technology provides.
A More Accessible Path to In-House Coating
For many printers, the opportunity around coating is easy to see. The challenge is finding a system that fits the production environment and makes financial sense.
The ZRE is designed around that need.
Its compact footprint and lower acquisition cost create an entry point for operations up to A3 and B2 sheet sizes, that want to add coating without investing in a larger automated platform. This can help printers keep more finishing work in-house, reduce reliance on outside vendors, and gain greater control over production schedules and turnaround times.
It also gives sales teams another way to add value to printed work. Protective coatings, gloss, matte, soft touch, and other specialty finishes can help differentiate applications while creating additional revenue opportunities from work the printer is already producing.
Built Around Repeatable Coating
Adding coating is most valuable when the process is consistent and predictable.
The ZRE uses Harris & Bruno's renowned chamber-anilox technology to control the amount of coating delivered to the sheet. This is the same system found on thousands of OEM units across the globe. Using a chamber-anilox system gives operators a measurable and repeatable foundation for each application. That control can help reduce unnecessary adjustments during production and make it easier to return to established settings when repeat work comes back through the shop.
For printers running different stocks, coating types, and customer applications, repeatability can translate into more predictable production and a more manageable coating process. This saves valuable operator time both on setup, and during production runs.
Chamber-Anilox vs. Roller Coaters
One of the key differences between the ZRE and many compact coating systems is how the coating is controlled.
Traditional roller coaters generally meter coating through the interaction of multiple rollers. Film thickness can change based on roller gaps, pressure, speed, viscosity, and operator adjustments. Achieving the desired result can require operators to continually fine-tune the system, as the applications are running.
Chamber-anilox technology approaches coating differently. The chamber supplies coating to an engraved anilox roll, while doctor blades meter the surface so that a defined volume remains within the engraved cells. That volume is then transferred through the coating process. This constant metering process ensures that the coating is the same sheet to sheet, without operator intervention. Additionally, this opens opportunities for finishes with particulates, such as soft touch, grit, and glitter.
For the printer, the value is greater repeatability and a clearer process. The coating, anilox engraving, substrate, and production settings can be matched to the application rather than relying on operator adjustments alone to achieve the intended result.
Coating Solutions for All Workflows
Not every printer needs a large, highly automated coating system like the ZR, or a high-speed web solution like the ZRW. Some operations need a compact solution that can add coating capability, support a growing range of applications, and provide a level of process control that can grow with the business.
For printers that have wanted a reliable coating in a smaller and more accessible platform, the ZRE provides a new way to bring that capability in-house.
Learn More About the ZRE
Visit Harris & Bruno at the Printing United Expo 2026 to see the first samples from the ZRE and explore coated applications firsthand. To learn more about how the ZRE could fit into your production workflow, contact Harris & Bruno to discuss your applications, coating requirements, and business goals.
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