Esterlam Provides Clear Solutions
Respected Throughout the World
Based in the United Kingdom, Esterlam are global leaders providing clear solutions for today's demanding flexo, gravure and screen applications.
Doctor Blades can be used to print/coat paper, films such as PET, BOPP, PVC, etc, and foils used in packaging, labelling, publication, corrugated products and displays, metal decoration and printed electronics.
We are extremely proud to have developed the original synthetic Doctor Blades over 30 years ago. We are the past, we are the present and we are the future.
Clear Proven Results
Use Esterlam's superior Doctor Blades and you'll quickly see why our products are world leaders. As specialist manufacturers, Esterlam's fully researched and manufactured Doctor Blades are in a class of their own - nothing even comes close. Our range has been consistently proven to not only improve and increase productivity, but also deliver a safer working environment.
The Leading Edge
From our pioneering synthetic blades of the 1970's to the advanced proprietary compounds and modern production techniques employed today, Esterlam's name is synonymous with the industry's leading edge developments. Why we're proud to be different:
- Less dot gain
- Longer blade life
- Improved safety
- Less abrasive
- Lower blade pressures
- Instant start-up
- Direct replacement for steel
- Esterlam's knowledge, expertise and technology are second to none
We guarantee that the quality of performance you demand is not only matched but exceeded. We are more than just Doctor Blades - we are the future of Doctor Blades.
What Our Customers Say...
First Class
Esterlam blades help us push the boundaries in print quality on standard machinery. First class technical support and customer service. The blades are working well on our TCY corrugated presses to produce some excellent process work.
Caps Corrugated (UK)
Exceptional Blade Life
The new Esterlam blades have been giving exceptional blade life and wearing more evenly. The new blades don’t relax and keep their shape better in the chamber, so less pressure is required and more consistent print achievable.Flexipol (UK)
Giving 3-4 times the life
Here at MacDermid, we’ve been using Esterlam in excess of 15 years, in fact we’ve only ever used Esterlam’s Doctor Blades. They perform well and as we need them and I’d say they are a consistent quality product. I would definitely recommend them.
The blades are run on a reverse roll coater and proved significantly successful in prolonging the life of the metering rollers, giving 3-4 times the life. A huge cost saving through a years production.Macdermid Autotype (UK)
Service and delivery is second to none
Esterlam’s Doctor Blades are something our technical team always insist on. As well as being correct in terms of technical specification and performance, Esterlam customer service and delivery is second to none. I would recommend Esterlam blades.
Running blades on W&D presses for process and solids. Esterlam have won FTA print Awards produced on this type of machinery.Encore Envelopes (UK)
Their blades are exactly what we need
We’ve been using Esterlam for at least 10 years. Their blades are exactly what we need in our packaging process. It does the job exactly and we’ve never had a problem. We would most definitely recommend them.
The customer has seen improved safety, longer blade life and the elimination of roller scoring caused by steel blade particlesGlatfelter (UK)
These blades have been perfect
. . .these blades have been perfect. Run time has been longer and great metering. In the words of the nightshift pressman I just talked to “these blades are impressive”. “As far as our day to day average jobs the blades were flawless.”
Blades are being run on W&H and PCMC wide web packaging presses.Major USA Packaging Converter
Achieving 4-5 times longer blade life
Esterlam blades have been offering us much improved performance with no loss of print quality. We are achieving 4-5 times longer blade life with the Esterlam blades, especially when running with aggressive white inks. We are also very pleased with the technical support too!
These blades are being run on a mix of Gallus, Mark Andy & Taiyo presses. The print results showed better coverage on solids and much longer blade life. They are getting 4-5 times the life of steel and since introducing Esterlam, they have eliminated score lines caused by steel blade particles.Yukousha – specialist label printer - Japan
Consistency of doctoring through speed changes in a run
We have been using Esterlam advanced E series doctor blades with a 22 degree bevel for over 10 years at our demo facility on the Mark Andy 4150 but more recently on the Mark Andy Performance Series P-5. The greatest benefits we’ve seen over any other plastic or synthetic blades that we have tried are very quick run in and consistency of doctoring through speed changes in a run.
There is also the added benefit of less wear and tear on the anilox and the safety that comes with the Esterlam blade. With a lot of the other plastic or synthetic blades that we have tried, we see a lot of blade flex throughout the ramp up of speed and unacceptable increases in colour strength and density which renders the results of the run useless.Large Plate manufacturer using Esterlam at their demo test facility, (USA)
Elimination of back doctoring and roller scoring
I tried both metering blades on the Mark Andy P3 and really couldn’t see a difference between the 2, they both worked very well. With my experience with these 2 blade materials, I do prefer the E-700 for running 1000- 1.8 BCM anilox rolls on process jobs. The E10 is a great blade for whites or heavier UV inks.
FVTC also run the Esterlam doctor and containment blades for training seminars for print professionals on their PCMC press very successfully. They like the safety of the blades and the excellent print quality they can achieve. They have seen the elimination of back doctoring and elimination of roller scoring caused be steel blade particles.FVTC in USA – flexo technical training centre
Superior product to anything we’ve tried
I have had the blades in press for most of my problem jobs and demanding situations with absolutely no failures and no negative feedback. In all cases Esterlam blades have made the press setup “better”. The prevailing opinion is, it is a superior product to anything we’ve tried (composite or plastic blades) and certainly better than what we use now.
The biggest difference with Esterlam is we get a cleaner, less streaky wipe right out of the gate. Under a scope you can see that its just a better edge right out of the box. We also run a 2 part OPV here with a high acetate content which other blades will not stand up to but the Esterlam runs just fine with it.Large USA converter
We are now seeing excellent results
Since introducing the Esterlam blades, we are now seeing excellent results in finished product which our customers like. Our rollers are in much better condition and longer blade life means less blade changes, all helping to reduce our production costs. The staff love a safer working environment too!
The Esterlam E10 is used on a W&H with a 2 part OPV showing great results. Running one of the Siegwerks 2 part OPV’s with high acetate content, the Esterlam blades are the only synthetic blades that we have found to work well in our production process.Large USA converter running W&H & PCMC presses
Better than the carbon fibre blades
We have been using the new Esterlam blades on our primer station now for a couple of months and they are working just as well if not better than the carbon fibre blades we were using previously. They wear very well and have been holding up well for our application. We normally changed the carbon fibre blades every 2 weeks on average and have been currently getting about 4-5 weeks out of each Esterlam blade. We are very happy with the performance of the Esterlam blades and the cost.Comments made from one of the world’s largest coating converters
Blade life increased
Blade life with a very aggressive white we use has gone from 4-5000m with another plastic blade, to 35000-40000m with the Esterlam and even after running for this amount of time the Esterlam blade has no signs of problems or needing to be changed. They also offer instant start-upComments from a new customer who had problems with blade wear on white inks
Try our Advanced Doctor Blades for Free!
Request a FREE Production PackYour Questions Answered
YES. As printing technology has advanced, so to have Esterlam doctor blades creating significant advantages over steel in today’s modern printing environment. Longer life, less roller wear and operator safety all add to improving productivity when using Esterlam blades. Consistent high quality performance in all areas of flexo printing and gravure coating has lead to many leading corporations worldwide changing to the Esterlam blades. Further evidence can be seen in an FQC project carried out by the FTA in the USA, which tested the Esterlam synthetic doctor blade against carbon and stainless steel to see the effect of doctor blade material on dot gain. The report summary showed that the Esterlam blades actually caused less dot gain than steel. A full copy of the report is available from the FTA or Esterlam can give further details on request.
YES, they are designed to run with less pressure plus having special self-lubricating characteristics, Esterlam doctor blades last significantly longer than steel in all ink formulation. Longer life means less blade changes, less machine stoppages and therefore increased productivity.
YES, they eliminate rusting and corrosion problems in water-based systems and have helped eliminate ‘ink spitting’ when used with UV inks.
YES, considerably safer. Esterlam doctor blades do not develop the razor sharp edges of steel and glassfibre blades and are therefore much safer to use. However care should be taken when handling any doctor blade material so as to protect both the operator and the blade edge.
YES. Esterlam blades are fully compatible with both ceramic and chrome rollers. In both cases blade and roller life is increased compared to using hard abrasive steel.
It is not possible to give exact blade pressures, as these will vary from press to press. However our experience has shown that Esterlam blades required less pressure than steel. Reductions normally vary between 10-30%, which again helps to reduce wear to the roller and give extended blade life.
YES. The high quality precision engineered profiles require minimal running-in time allow printers to immediately reach full production speeds and match precisely customer specifications. That means less material wastage and increased press productivity.
YES. Esterlam blades are successfully run on all major machine makes and models without the need for press modifications. All we recommend is that you reduce pressure compared to that use with the old steel blade.
YES. Esterlam blades are very cost effective. You will use less of them saving you money, changing them less often which saves you time, your aniloxes will remain in better condition and your operators will have a safer working environment.