Low viscosity print coating systems and methods

A system for coating and printing on a roll of web product, the system comprising:

• a coating system comprising:
• an unwinding station comprising an unwinding device that is configured to enable unwinding of the roll of web product, wherein the unwinding station is configured to receive the roll of web product;
• a winding station that is configured to receive a tail end of the roll of web product and enable winding up of the roll of web product that is coated;
• a motor configured to cause web product from the roll of web product to at least one of unwind at the unwinding station or wind at the winding station such that the web product travels along a web path from the unwinding station to the winding station;
• a coating roller that is configured to apply a low viscosity print coating to a first side of the web product at a first position along the web path, wherein the low viscosity print coating comprises a salt solution that is configured to enhance printability on the web product, wherein the salt solution has a centipoise that is less than 100 centipoise;
• a backing roller that is configured to apply a backing coating to a second side of the web product at a second position along the web path, wherein the backing coating is configured to enhance sheet stability of the web product, wherein the first side of the web product is opposite the second side of the web product, wherein the second position is different than the first position;
• and
• a drying station positioned along the web path downstream of the coating roller and the backing roller and upstream of the winding station, wherein the drying station is configured to dry the low viscosity print coating and the backing coating to remove moisture from the web product;
• and
• a printing system configured to receive the coated roll of web product and print on the first side of the coated roll of web product, wherein the printing system is separate from the coating system.

A method for coating a roll of web product, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an unwinding station, a roll of web product, wherein the unwinding station comprises an unwinding device that is configured to enable unwinding of the roll of web product;
• receiving, at a winding station, a tail end of the roll of web product, wherein the winding station is configured to enable winding up of the roll of web product;
• causing the web product from the roll of web product to at least one of unwind at the unwinding station or wind at the winding station such that the web product travels along a web path from the unwinding station to the winding station;
• operating a coating roller while the web product is traveling along the web path to apply, via the coating roller, a low viscosity print coating to a first side of the web product at a first position along the web path, wherein the low viscosity print coating comprises a salt solution that is configured to enhance printability on the web product, wherein the salt solution has a centipoise that is less than 100 centipoise;
• operating a backing roller while the web product is traveling along the web path to apply, via the backing roller, a backing coating to a second side of the web product at a second position along the web path, wherein the backing coating is configured to enhance sheet stability of the web product, wherein the first side of the web product is opposite the second side of the web product, wherein the second position is different than the first position;
• and
• drying the web product at a drying station positioned along the web path downstream of the coating roller and the backing roller and upstream of the winding station, wherein the drying station is configured to dry the low viscosity print coating and the backing coating to remove moisture from the web product.