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Smooth Rods

Smooth Rods

Smoothing Rods

Buschman smooth metering rods are precision-manufactured to deliver consistent coating coverage, dependable performance, and long life that reduces costs and optimizes efficiency in your day-to-day operations. Whatever your application, Buschman can provide a smoothing rod tailored to your needs.

Smoothing rods are primarily used to apply clay coatings to paperboard and to distribute higher viscosity coatings evenly and smoothly. Many Buschman customers use a smoothing rod as a follow-up process to a metering rod or other coating method to create a smoother coating result, especially when using high viscosity coatings.

Buschman is the only smoothing rod manufacturer that manufactures everything in-house. Our quality standards are second to none, resulting in rods that ensure precision, consistency, and stability.

Buschman smoothing rods come in three standard varieties:

  • Plain stainless steel;
  • Chrome plated;
  • Ceramic coated.

Benefits

Here’s why leading paper mills and converting mills around the world trust Buschman smoothing rods:
  • Longer Runs - Buschman smoothing rods are the most durable smoothing rods available;
  • Less Operator Frustration - Machine operators are more efficient when they are using the highest quality consumable parts;
  • Expertise & Service – Our industry-leading expertise and responsive customer service can help you solve almost any coating challenge.

Features

  • Manufactured with the finest stainless steel for the most demanding applications;
  • Manufactured in-house using a proprietary process that guarantees precision and consistency;
  • 100% input and output quality inspections for quality and consistency, rod after rod.

Applications

  • Clay & color coating
  • Coating paperboard and linerboard
  • Dual rod press to smooth rod lines
  • Light Weight Coatings (LWCs) on fine papers
  • Specialty & custom coating applications

Specifications

  • Material: 300 Series Stainless Steel
  • Available Diameters: 6.35mm – 38.00mm (0.25in – 1.50in)
  • Chrome plated rod lengths up to 12m (472in)
  • Ceramic coated rod lengths up to 9.6m (378in)
  • Hard Chrome Plating Thickness: 0.008mm – 0.075mm (0.0003in – 0.0030in)
  • Ceramic Coating Thickness: 0.250mm (0.010in)

Special (Machined / Welded) Ends

Buschman can work from your engineering drawing or napkin sketch to engineer any special end your operation may require. We also offer all industry-standard special ends.
Plain
Plain
Single Flat
Single Flat
Double Flat
Double Flat
Square
Square
Standard Hex
Standard Hex
Indexed Hex
Indexed Hex
Drive Pin
Drive Pin
Woodruff Key
Woodruff Key
Standard Key
Standard Key
Turned, Tapered and Slotted
Turned, Tapered and Slotted
Gear Journal
Gear Journal
Hex Journal
Hex Journal

More Resources

How to Order

Our engineering team will work with you to customize long-lasting metering rods for your application. Call us or use our online form to request a quote.

Call us at +1 216 431 6633

Testimonials

Quality, Performance & Responsiveness

“Buschman’s service is outstanding. You don’t find that anymore. If we need something custom tweaked through Buschman, they’re more than willing to sit down with us and do so. They have quality, performance, and great delivery time and they’re very responsive to our needs. They go above and beyond. They’re first class.”

Coating Manager
Leading U.S. Packaging Paper Plant

The Supplier of Choice for Coating Rods

“The quality of Buschman’s products is excellent. In the ten years we’ve been purchasing coating rods from them, we’ve had maybe two or three issues and they are minor issues. For the number of coating rods we purchase, that’s incredible. Their quality has been so high and they work so well with us that we don’t even consider looking at other vendors for our coating rod needs.”

Purchasing Manager
Leading Packaging Paper Producer in Southern US

Top Ratings for Quality Products & Service

“Since we’ve opened the doors here, we’ve worked and had a great partnership with Buschman. They are a very highly reputable company and we’re proof of that as a happy customer. We have a lot of trust and faith in Buschman, so we just give them gold stars.”

Production Manager
Large Multinational Packaging Paper Plant

Consistent Quality

“Consistent quality is the number one requirement for me and that’s what Buschman delivers.”

Senior Manager
Multinational Paper Mill in Australia

Buschman Delivers Consistent Quality

“It’s all about the quality of the rod we’re using to meter the product onto the paper. Without the proper rod application, your coating isn’t going to lay properly. Buschman has a quality product that performs the way it’s supposed to and they get it to us when we need it. They consistently meet all our expectations.”

Coated Products Manager
International Packaging Paper Producer

Trusted for Superior Quality & Service

“The number one reason we work with Buschman is the product quality. The second reason is service. If we are running low on product, they’ll turn the world upside down to get us what we need. Buschman delivers product performance and customer service.”

Coated Products Manager
Prominent Packaging Paper Producer in Northern US

Going Above & Beyond for Customers

“We’ve used Buschman for well over ten years. Buschman goes above and beyond: The quality of materials, the finished goods, the on-time deliveries. They go out of their way to get us the product we need.”

Coating Manager
Large Converter in Northern US