UV Printing: An Emerging Technology In The Packaging And Printing Industry
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?
Inks with special solvents are used in traditional printing. They evaporate into the atmosphere when they are 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. Spray powders can be used to speed up drying. However, this printing technique is not compatible with plastics, acrylics, foil, and other materials.
The Ultraviolet (UV), Printing Process
UV printing utilizes ultraviolet lights to dry the ink as it's Click here for more info 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 is printed directly on the substrate. It turns from liquid to solid almost immediately when exposed to UV radiation. 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 dry quickly, leaving no VOCs behind. UV printing is an environmentally friendly technology that has a low carbon footprint.
LED UV Printing
Led-UV printing, the latest technology in UV printing, produces wavelengths of 385-395nm (nanometer). This light spectrum is safer, more efficient and provides superior results than traditional UV printing.
Printing with led UV is a more practical choice than its UV counterpart. First, unlike UV printing which requires mercury lamps to cure the inks, led UV does not require them. This makes it safer and more affordable. The UV-A spectrum is where the UV light is emitted, making it safer than traditional UV printing. Furthermore, its power consumption is less than that of conventional UV printing.
LED UV printing offers the long-lasting quality that luxury businesses strive for. Furthermore, its faster drying time gives it greater reliability in the pharmaceutical and FMCG industries. The final printed product is enhanced with color and finished with superior quality that makes a lasting impression.
LED-UV printing is a green and environmentally friendly technology. There is no VOC (Volatile Organic Chemical) emissions during the printing process. 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 the food packaging industry
Digital UV printing is an excellent way to personalize products and keep them competitive in a global market.
Conventional printing was dangerous because inks from the printing plate could be transferred onto food items inside the packaging. Furthermore, since these inks weren't cured and exposed to potential hazards, there was always the potential risk for contamination. 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. Food manufacturers are increasingly using this method to customize food items and maintain high quality standards.
UV Printing in Pharmaceutical Industry
Each industry is different. Different industries require different printing technologies. Every brand has its own aesthetic appeal. One type of security printing that is popular in the pharmaceutical industry 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. While these inks cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can be illuminated 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
Ultraviolet printing is unquestionably the future of printing and packaging, as Grand Prints suggests. It is economical and environmentally friendly, and its business-generating advantages are vast.
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 doesn't require you to wait for ink to dry. The photochemical process evaporates the ink, so it can be done almost immediately!
It is economical: This method can help you save significant money because of its quicker drying time. Because the product is quick drying, it can be printed faster. You don't have to use aqueous coatings like traditional inks for printing packaging.
A vibrant finish: UV printing provides a brighter appearance because there is no time for ink to soak into paper/material. This technique can produce 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.
