Abstract: In an applicator a thick coating of a liquid is applied to a flexible web that is then moved through a doctor assembly where excess liquid is scraped from the web. The doctor assembly has a generally stationary support at the station and a holder beam extending longitudinally substantially parallel to the web and transverse to a web travel direction. The beam is movable on the support transversely of itself and of the travel direction forward toward and backward away from the web and has a front face directed toward the web and an opposite back face turned away from the web. The support has front and back faces generally parallel to and respectively confronting the front and back faces of the holder beam. A doctor rod held in the holder beam is juxtaposable thereby with the web to scrape the excess liquid from the web. Front inflatable hoses are provided between the front faces of the holder beam and support and back inflatable hoses between the back faces of the holder beam and support.