bedrijfsnieuws over Innovative Application of UV-LED Curing Technology in Offset Printing

Traditional offset printing processes typically use solvent-based inks or UV-cured mercury lamps. Traditional inks require powdering to prevent sticking and have long drying times, limiting production speeds. While traditional UV-cured mercury lamps offer rapid curing, they present the following drawbacks:

• Excessive Heat: The infrared heat generated can easily deform or damage heat-sensitive substrates (such as plastics and films).
• High Energy Consumption: High startup and operation energy consumption, along with lengthy warm-up and cool-down periods.
• Environmental Issues: Contains mercury, leading to regulatory restrictions and pressure for its elimination.

A leading packaging printing company decided to fully deploy a UV-LED curing system on its new high-speed offset press, replacing its previous traditional UV mercury lamp system. The core of this solution is a UV-LED curing light source customized for a specific wavelength (typically 385nm or 395nm) and a matching UV-LED ink.

• Printing on heat-sensitive materials: Because UV-LEDs generate virtually no infrared heat, printers can now easily process heat-sensitive materials such as PVC plastic cards, synthetic paper, shrink film, and metal foil without worrying about material deformation or damage.
• Color consistency: Stable curing temperature and ink performance ensure highly consistent printed colors throughout mass production.
• Excellent surface properties: Cured inks and varnishes dry instantly and fully cure, resulting in a high-gloss, scratch-resistant, and abrasion-resistant surface. No powder coating is required, allowing immediate processing for post-processing (such as die-cutting and lamination).
• Mercury-Free and Environmentally Friendly: The complete elimination of lamps containing toxic mercury has resulted in mercury-free production, complying with increasingly stringent global environmental standards.
• VOC-Free: UV-LED inks are solvent-free and emit no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the curing process, improving workshop air quality.
• Improved Safety: Low operating temperatures reduce the risk of burns to workers from hot surfaces.

The application of UV-LED curing technology in offset printing is more than just a technological upgrade; it also symbolizes the printing industry's transformation toward digitalization, greening, and high performance. By deploying UV-LED solutions, printing companies can significantly reduce operating costs, expand their business scope, and provide high-quality products that meet environmental standards, thereby gaining a leading position in global competition.