Abstract: A coater for directly or indirectly applying a coating medium to a fiber web includes a mounting; a coater rod; and a coater rod bed connected to the mounting. The coater rod bed includes a metal body with a longitudinal extension, a rod holding portion with an inner contoured surface, at least one longitudinally extending groove in the contoured surface, and at least one non-metallic bearing strip within each respective longitudinally extending groove. The coater rod bed is rotatably carried within the rod holding portion and directly engaged by each non-metallic bearing strip.