Abstract: A process and apparatus for edge coating a substrate is provided. A process provides a layer of a formable coating material on a transfer belt which layer of formable material has a variable thickness over the width of the layer, applying a layer of the formable coating material on the transfer belt to the edge surface to produce a coated edge surface and smoothing the coated edge surface by contact with a smoothing belt. The coating on the edge surface is sufficiently thick to cover and smooth irregularities in the edge surface of the substrate. The coated edge surface can be further treated by the usual methods for coating edge surfaces of flat substrates. The apparatus comprises the roller or nozzle to provide the layer of formable material of variable thickness on the transfer belt, the transfer belt carries the coating material to the edge surface and the transfer belt can act as a smoothing belt to provide an edge surface with the coating material with all of the irregularities obscured.