A method of coating a membrane having a first side and an opposite second side and carried with its second side adhering to a backer film is provided. The method includes coating the first side of the membrane with a catalyst ink or slurry with the second side adhering to the backer film and curing the coating on the first side. The backer film is then removed to expose the second side of the membrane which is fed onto a vacuum conveyor with the coated first side facing the conveyor. The second side of the membrane is then coated with a catalyst ink or slurry and the coating on the second side cured after which the membrane is removed from the vacuum conveyor.