UV Printing: A New Technology In Packaging And Printing
What is UV Printing?
UV printing is a method of digital printing that makes use of ultraviolet light to cure ink and dry it as it is spread on the substrate. The ink is dried instantly by the Ultraviolet Lights that follow the printer as it passes over each spot.
Ultraviolet printing allows for direct printing onto a wide variety of flat and 3D media. This makes it possible to customize products. 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.
What is the difference between conventional printing and ultraviolet printing?
Traditional printing uses inks that are infused with special solvents. These solvents evaporate into the air when the ink is applied to the material. 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. 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. The printing industry is embracing ultraviolet printing as a new trend. It is more durable than traditional methods.
UV ink can be printed directly on the substrate (material), and it transforms almost instantly from liquid to solid when exposed to UV light. Because there's very little solvent evaporation and almost no absorption in paper, UV inks can be used to print practically any item. This technology provides direct printing capabilities onto an almost limitless range of 3-D media, enabling quick and effortless product customization.
UV inks dry quickly and leave no VOCs behind, making UV printing an environmentally friendly technology with a small carbon footprint.
LED UV Printing
Led-UV printing is the latest generation of UV printing technology, producing wavelengths at 385-395nm (nanometer). This light spectrum is safer and more efficient than its older counterpart, giving results far superior to those achieved through traditional UV printing methods.
Printing with led UV is a more practical choice than 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. Additionally, it consumes less energy than traditional UV printing.
LED UV printing offers the long-lasting quality that luxury businesses strive for. 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 is a green and environmentally friendly technology. There is no VOC (Volatile Organic Chemical) emissions during the printing process. 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 was dangerous because inks from the printing plate could be transferred onto food items inside the packaging. Because these inks didn't cure and were exposed to potential hazards there was always the risk of contamination. The final packaging of food was also not up to standards.
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
Every industry has its own labeling requirements. Different applications require different printing technology. This includes labels for pharmaceutical, sports, food, beverages, cosmetics, and more. Each brand is unique in its aesthetic appeal. UV printing is one type of security printing popular within the pharmaceutical sector.
Uniquely, pharmaceutical labels such as medical and drug brand names can be susceptible to counterfeiting or forgery. For added protection, the pharmaceutical industry uses UV printing.
Pharmaceutical printing utilizes invisible UV inks, which have proven to be one of the most successful techniques for preventing counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical industry. While these inks cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can be illuminated by Ultraviolet LEDs. With unique identification numbers attached to each pharmaceutical item, invisible UV inks provide a strong deterrent against counterfeiters.
UV printing offers untold benefits
Grand Prints believes that ultraviolet printing will be the future in packaging and printing. It's cost-effective and sustainable, with many benefits for business.
LED Print Applications - LEDs offer a cool, dry touch and minimal More Info heat output making them perfect for printing on heat sensitive substrates like thin slides, self-adhesive sheets, and stretched PVC materials.
UV Printing is Faster than Traditional Printing. UV printing doesn't require you to wait for ink to dry. The photochemical process evaporates the ink, so it can be done almost immediately!
This technique is cost-effective because it takes less time to dry. You can print more because the finished product dries quickly. Plus, no aqueous coatings are necessary as with traditional inks 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 an emerging industry trend that promises to expand over the coming years and find applications across various industries. Due to its cost-efficiency, eco-friendliness, and diverse nature, UV printing is sure to become the future of packaging and printing technology.
