The Emerging Technology Of UV Printing For The Packaging And Printing Industry 88119
What is UV Printing?
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. As the printer passes over each spot where the ink has been printed, Ultraviolet lights follow close behind, instantly "curing" or drying the ink.
Ultraviolet printing provides direct printing capabilities onto an almost endless range of flat and 3D media, enabling easy product customization. This is one reason it has become popular in packaging solutions companies; when UV ink is printed directly onto a substrate and exposed to ultraviolet light, it instantly solidifies from the liquid.
How does it work?
Traditional printing techniques use inks with special solvents that evaporate into the air upon application onto the material during printing. The solvents are evaporated into the air and allow the ink to absorb more easily onto the surface. Once it is vaporized, the ink leaves behind a digital picture. To expedite drying time, different spray powders may be required; furthermore, this printing technique cannot be applied to materials like plastics, acrylics, or foil.
Ultraviolet (UV) Printing Process
UV printing utilizes ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it's printed quickly. After the printer distributes the ink onto a material's surface, UV lights follow behind, quickly drying it. The printing industry is embracing ultraviolet printing as a new trend. It is more durable than traditional methods.
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 allows you to print directly onto a vast array of 3-D media. This allows for quick 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 light spectrum is safer and more efficient than its older counterpart, giving results far superior to those achieved through traditional UV printing methods.
The practicality of printing with led UV is greater than that of its UV counterpart. 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 is the best option for luxury companies looking for long-lasting results. LED UV printing is more reliable for the FMCG, pharmaceutical, and FMCG industries due to its quicker drying times. The final printed product is enhanced with color and finished with superior quality that makes a lasting impression.
LED-UV printing can be considered a sustainable and green technology. It emits no volatile organic compounds (VOC) during printing. The infrastructure required to install LED printing units is less expensive for companies, and the end result is a better product with a gloss finish.
UV Printing in Food Packaging Industry
Digital UV printing is an excellent way to personalize products and keep them competitive in a global market.
Conventional printing methods were hazardous, as there was a high likelihood that food items could get contaminated when ink substances from the printing plate were transferred onto them inside the packaging. Because these inks didn't cure and were exposed to potential hazards there was always the risk of contamination. Also, the final food packaging was not up to standard.
The use of UV inks to print food packaging has been a great success. They cure during printing and leave no harmful solvents. Food manufacturers are increasingly using this method to customize food items and maintain high quality standards.
UV Printing in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Labeling is unique for every industry. Different industries require different printing technologies. Every brand has its own aesthetic appeal. UV printing is one type of security printing popular within the pharmaceutical sector.
The uniqueness of pharmaceutical labels (such as medical and drug brands) is that they are susceptible to forgery or counterfeiting. In order to combat these practices, UV printing is used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmaceutical printing utilizes invisible UV inks, which have proven to be one of the most successful techniques for preventing counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry. Although these inks can't be seen by the naked eye, UltravioletLEDs can illuminate them. The unique identification numbers that Home page are attached to every pharmaceutical item make invisible UV inks a strong deterrent for counterfeiters.
UV Printing Offers Untold Advantages
Grand Prints argues that ultraviolet printing is the future of packaging and printing. It's economical, environmentally friendly, and has many business-generating benefits.
LED Print Applications: LEDs are cool and dry, with very little heat output. They can be used to print on heat-sensitive substrates like self-adhesive sheets or thin slides.
UV Printing Is Faster Than Traditional Printing: UV printing is much quicker than conventional printing, as you don't have to wait for your ink to dry as UV ink dries during the photochemical process - it's almost instantaneous!
Cost-Effective: With this technique, you can save considerable money due to its faster drying time. You can print more because the finished product dries quickly. You don't have to use aqueous coatings like traditional inks for printing packaging.
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 an emerging industry trend that promises to expand over the coming years and find applications across various industries. It is expected to be the future of packaging technology and printing technology due to its cost-efficiency and eco-friendliness.
