UV Printing: A New Technology In Packaging And Printing 12044
What is UV Printing and how can it help you?
UV printing is a type of digital printing that utilizes ultraviolet light to dry or cure the ink as it's spread on the surface. The printer will pass over the areas where ink is printed. Ultraviolet light follows closely behind and instantly "cure" or dry the ink.
Ultraviolet printing allows for direct printing onto a wide variety of flat and 3D media. This makes it possible to customize products. This is why it is so popular among packaging solutions companies. When UV ink is printed onto a substrate, and it is exposed to ultraviolet light it immediately solidifies.
How does it work?
Traditional printing techniques use inks with special solvents that evaporate into the air upon application onto the material during printing. These solvents evaporate into the air, allowing ink to soak into the surface faster and leaving behind a digital image once it has dried. Different spray powders are available to speed drying times. This printing method cannot be used on materials such as plastics, acrylics or foil.
The Ultraviolet (UV), Printing Process
UV printing utilizes ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it's printed quickly. The ink is applied to the material by the printer. UV lights quickly dry the ink. Ultraviolet printing is currently a trending topic within the printing sector and is more sustainable than conventional techniques.
UV ink is printed directly onto the substrate (material), turning from liquid to solid state almost instantaneously when exposed to UV light. You can print almost anything with UV inks because there is little to no evaporation and virtually no absorption of solvents into paper. This technology provides direct printing capabilities onto an almost limitless range of 3-D media, enabling quick and effortless product customization.
UV inks are quick drying and leave no VOCs behind. UV printing can be an eco-friendly technology that leaves little carbon footprint.
LED UV Printing
Led-UV Printing is the latest generation in UV printing technology. It produces wavelengths at 385-395nm. This new UV spectrum is safer than the older one and produces superior results to traditional UV printing methods.
Led UV printing is more practical than UV. Firstly, unlike UV printing, led UV doesn't need mercury lamps for curing the inks; this makes it safer and cheaper because the light emitted falls within the UV-A range, offering greater security than its traditional counterpart. It also consumes less power than conventional UV printing.
LED UV printing provides the quality luxury businesses desire. LED UV printing is more reliable for the FMCG, pharmaceutical, and FMCG industries due to its quicker drying times. Customers get color enhancements on the final printed products with superior finishing that leaves a lasting impression on buyers.
LED-UV printing can be considered a sustainable and green technology. It emits no volatile organic compounds (VOC) during printing. Companies require less infrastructure to set up LED printing units, while consumers get a superior product with a glossy finish.
UV Printing in Food Packaging Industry
Product personalization is a growing global industry, and digital UV printing provides an ideal way to meet this demand, boost product sales, and stay competitive.
Conventional printing techniques were dangerous as food items could become contaminated if ink substances were transferred from the printing plate onto the packaging. These inks were not cured, so they could be contaminated. Also, the final food packaging was not up to standard.
UV printing in the food packaging industry has proven a hugely successful solution--UV inks cure during printing, leaving no hazardous solvents that could contaminate what's inside. More and more food manufacturers are pursuing this technique for customized food items while upholding high-quality standards.
UV Printing in Pharmaceutical Industry
Labeling is unique for every industry. Different applications necessitate different printing technology, from pharmaceutical to sports and food labels, durable to beverages and cosmetics - every brand comes with its aesthetic appeal. One form of security printing used in the pharmaceutical Discover more here sector is UV printing.
Pharmaceutical labels, such as drug and medical brands, are unique in that they can be vulnerable to counterfeiting or forgery. To combat such practices, UV printing is often employed in the pharmaceutical industry along with serialization for added protection.
Pharmaceutical printing utilizes invisible UV inks, which have proven to be one of the most successful techniques for preventing counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry. These inks are not visible to the naked eye but can be lit by Ultraviolet LEDs. The unique identification numbers that are attached to every pharmaceutical item make invisible UV inks a strong deterrent for counterfeiters.
UV printing offers untold benefits
Grand Prints believes that ultraviolet printing will be the future in packaging and printing. It is economical and environmentally friendly, and its business-generating advantages are vast.
LED Print Applications: LEDs provide a cool and dry touch with minimal heat output, making them ideal for printing on heat-sensitive substrates such as self-adhesive sheets, thin slides, or stretched PVC materials.
UV Printing Is More Fast Than Traditional Printing. Because UV ink is evaporative during the photochemical process, it doesn't take long for inks to dry. It's almost instantaneous.
Cost-Effective: With this technique, you can save considerable money due to its faster drying time. Because the product is quick drying, it can be printed faster. Aqueous coatings don't need to be applied as often as traditional inks used for packaging printing.
Vibrant Finish: UV printing offers a more vibrant appearance since there is no time for the ink to soak into the paper/material. This method can create photo-realistic prints.
The bottom line
UV printing is a new industry trend which promises to grow over the next few years and have applications in many industries. Because of its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and varied nature, UV printing will be the future in packaging and printing technology.