An applicator head for a vacuum coating system for applying a coating to a workpiece, the applicator head comprising: a manifold shell having a first shell plate and a second shell plate opposing the first shell plate, the first shell plate including a first shell aperture and a first conduit attachment coupled to the first shell aperture, and the second shell plate including a second shell aperture and a second conduit attachment coupled to the second shell aperture; and a first applicator manifold affixed to the first shell plate, wherein the first applicator manifold comprises: a first manifold plate affixed to the first shell plate and including a first manifold aperture aligned with the first shell aperture; and a second manifold plate affixed to the first manifold plate, wherein a first applicator channel is formed between the first and second manifold plates (91, 93), and wherein the first applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the first manifold aperture and forms a first applicator port at a first leading edge of the first applicator manifold; a second applicator manifold affixed to the second shell plate, wherein the second applicator manifold comprises: a third manifold plate affixed to the second shell plate and including a second manifold aperture aligned with the second shell aperture, and a fourth manifold plate affixed to the third manifold plate, wherein a second applicator channel is formed between the third and fourth manifold plates (97, 99), and wherein the second applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the second manifold aperture and forms a second applicator port at a second leading edge of the second applicator manifold; characterised in that the applicator head further comprises: a first face plate and a second face plate, each of the first and second face plates (59, 61) disposed over the first and second leading edges of the first and second applicator manifolds (43, 45), thereby covering at least a portion of each of the first and second applicator ports (77, 79). a manifold shell having a first shell plate and a second shell plate opposing the first shell plate, the first shell plate including a first shell aperture and a first conduit attachment coupled to the first shell aperture, and the second shell plate including a second shell aperture and a second conduit attachment coupled to the second shell aperture; and a first applicator manifold affixed to the first shell plate, wherein the first applicator manifold comprises: a first manifold plate affixed to the first shell plate and including a first manifold aperture aligned with the first shell aperture; and a second manifold plate affixed to the first manifold plate, wherein a first applicator channel is formed between the first and second manifold plates (91, 93), and wherein the first applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the first manifold aperture and forms a first applicator port at a first leading edge of the first applicator manifold; a first manifold plate affixed to the first shell plate and including a first manifold aperture aligned with the first shell aperture; and a second manifold plate affixed to the first manifold plate, wherein a first applicator channel is formed between the first and second manifold plates (91, 93), and wherein the first applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the first manifold aperture and forms a first applicator port at a first leading edge of the first applicator manifold; a second applicator manifold affixed to the second shell plate, wherein the second applicator manifold comprises: a third manifold plate affixed to the second shell plate and including a second manifold aperture aligned with the second shell aperture, and a fourth manifold plate affixed to the third manifold plate, wherein a second applicator channel is formed between the third and fourth manifold plates (97, 99), and wherein the second applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the second manifold aperture and forms a second applicator port at a second leading edge of the second applicator manifold; characterised in that the applicator head further comprises: a third manifold plate affixed to the second shell plate and including a second manifold aperture aligned with the second shell aperture, and a fourth manifold plate affixed to the third manifold plate, wherein a second applicator channel is formed between the third and fourth manifold plates (97, 99), and wherein the second applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the second manifold aperture and forms a second applicator port at a second leading edge of the second applicator manifold; characterised in that the applicator head further comprises: a first face plate and a second face plate, each of the first and second face plates (59, 61) disposed over the first and second leading edges of the first and second applicator manifolds (43, 45), thereby covering at least a portion of each of the first and second applicator ports (77, 79).