Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the thickness and distribution of coating on a sheet of material being drawn upwardly from a bath of liquid coating material includes upper and lower lip members having a fixed contour defining an elongated outlet orifice which has minimum gap opening at the central portion thereof and tapers outwardly to larger gap openings at the ends of such orifice.

Abstract: A low profile coating unit and method for galvanizing strips of steel of varying thicknesses with varying thickness of coating. The unit includes an air knife assembly and supporting means permitting adjustment in the horizontal, vertical and lateral directions independently of one another. The air knife assembly includes (1) a tubular manifold for receiving pressurized fluid and having a slot for discharging such fluid, (2) a housing encircling said slot defining a chamber and terminating in support means for (3) upper and lower lip members each having a fixed contour and cooperating to define an outlet orifice having an outlet orifice of minimum gap opening and tapering to maximum gap opening at its transverse ends and (4) diffuser means between the manifold and the outlet orifice.