Abstract: A coating system is disclosed comprising apparatus for coating webs comprising a rigid, elongated trough, a cylindrical applicator mounted for rotation about its axis within the trough, the trough having an arcuate upstream liquid retaining surface and an arcuate downstream liquid retaining surface closely spaced from the lower surface of the cylindrical applicator to define an arcuate coating zone which progressively narrows in the downstream direction, a manifold between the upstream liquid retaining surface and the downstream liquid retaining surface, the manifold extending substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical applicator, the arcuate downstream liquid retaining surface and the arcuate upstream liquid retaining surface extending from the manifold upwardly a sufficient distance along the periphery of the cylindrical applicator to retain most of any liquid in the coating zone, a wall at each end of the trough to retain the liquid in the coating zone, each of the walls being closely spaced fro