The Future of UV LED Printing

Looking around, print is everywhere, from books to flyers, brochures to labels - all of these items rely on print to convey their message. UV LED printing is quietly emerging as a popular technology. So what does the future hold for UV LED printing?

UV LED ink

UV LED ink differs from traditional UV free radical ink in the formulation. Special consideration of photoinitiators and pigments in the formulation These special photoinitiators absorb at a higher wavelength as opposed to traditional These special photoinitiators absorb at a higher wavelength as opposed to traditional photoinitiators and are typically more expensive.

Fast turnaround time

If companies had a choice, they would obviously choose to print their projects as quickly as possible, but older printing technologies used to take a lot of time to produce. UV LED printers do not, because the instant drying process means that there is no longer a need to wait for the ink to dry, and there is no longer a need to use non-stick powder coating, saving even more time.

UV LED technology is now very efficient because its drying process reduces the turnaround time for most high-quality print jobs by about 40%, so you'll receive perfect projects faster than expected.

Quality attention

Just because a UV LED printer dries out ink instantly doesn't mean it affects the quality of the job. In fact, it only enhances it further. Although the technology incorporates instant drying, it ensures that the ink does not sink into the material. In turn, colors are sharper, brighter and more vivid. Sharper colors make the image stand out and grab the reader's attention. For example, if you are a watchmaking company, sharper and more vivid colors will highlight the most subtle aspects of the various products offered and resonate visually, regardless of the material on which it is printed.

A common and sometimes unavoidable problem in older printing techniques is ink shedding. This is when unwanted ink is transferred from one sheet of print to another. However, in UV LED printing, the ink sticking is eliminated because it is an instant drying process, which means there is no need for an anti-adhesive powder spray and the finished product will not have any unwanted marks.

UV LED printing is versatile

UV LED inks can be printed on metal, glass, ceramics, leather, wood, flooring, acrylic, wallpaper, PC, PVC, ABS and other planar or micro-curvature materials. Some materials need to be coated for better performance.

Environmentally friendly

While it may not seem like printers are environmentally friendly, UV LED printers are actually environmentally friendly due to the sheer size of some of these printers. UV LED printing uses less power than traditional print-drying technologies, and the instant on/off function feature reduces standby consumption between jobs and reduces overall CO2 emissions.

While being environmentally friendly won't have any impact on the quality of the work you print, it could be a huge advantage to your business if potential customers find out that you are making a difference to the environment, which is becoming increasingly important to more and more people today. Therefore, demonstrating that your high-end business is environmentally conscious can be a great way to build rapport with your customers.

Other advantages of UV LED

▷ No IR radiation, less heat

▷ More compact than mercury systems

▷ Low voltage

▷ No shutters or glass quartz

▷ Consistent and immediate UV output over operating life

▷ No UVC and therefore no ozone emitted, eliminating need for exhaust

▷ Does not contain heavy metals (mercury)

▷ Longer life, + 20,000 hrs as compared to 1,500 hrs on a standard UV mercury lamp

▷ Easier to convert materials that are heat sensitive

▷ LEDs are more efficient than mercury bulbs

What is the future of UV LED printing?

For high-end businesses that want to fully showcase their materials and products, creating items such as brochures through UV LED printers will help make everything look better. This is crucial in this digital age, as high-quality materials are the best way to attract attention. Choosing the perfect stock and using UV LED printing technology will ensure that all products produced not only look quality, but feel that way in the hands of the reader. UV LED printing is more than just a buzzword, it is making the future of printing better.