UV Printing Is An Emerging Technology In The Packaging And Printing Industry
What is UV Printing and how can it help you?
UV printing, a digital type of printing that uses ultraviolet light to cure or dry ink while it's being spread on the surface, is a form of digital printing. The printer will pass over the areas where ink is printed. Ultraviolet light follows closely behind and instantly "cure" or dry the 4shared.com/s/fEtLDeGI9ge ink.
Ultraviolet print allows you to directly print onto almost any flat or 3D media. This allows you to create custom 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.
What is the difference between conventional printing and ultraviolet printing?
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. To expedite drying time, different spray powders may be required; furthermore, this printing technique cannot be applied to materials like plastics, acrylics, or foil.
The Ultraviolet (UV), Printing Process
The UV printer uses ultraviolet lights to quickly dry ink. The printer applies the ink to the surface of the material. After that, the UV lights dry it quickly. 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 allows for direct printing on a wide range of 3-D media. It also makes it possible to customize products quickly and easily.
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 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. First of all, unlike UV printing mercury lamps are not required for curing inks. Second, led UV is safer and cheaper than UV printing. Additionally, it consumes less energy than traditional UV printing.
LED UV printing provides the quality luxury businesses desire. Furthermore, its faster drying time gives it greater reliability in the pharmaceutical and FMCG industries. 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. While companies require less infrastructure for LED printing units, consumers receive a premium 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. 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.
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
Each industry is different. 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. One type of security printing that is popular in the pharmaceutical industry is UV printing.
Uniquely, pharmaceutical labels such as medical and drug brand names can be susceptible to counterfeiting or forgery. 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. While these inks cannot be seen with the naked eye, they can be illuminated by Ultraviolet LEDs. Invisible UV inks are a powerful deterrent to counterfeiters because they have unique identification numbers attached each time a pharmaceutical item is opened.
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 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!
This technique is cost-effective because it takes less time to dry. You can print more because the finished product dries quickly. Aqueous coatings don't need to be applied as often as traditional inks used for packaging printing.
Bright Finish: UV printing gives you a vibrant look because the ink doesn't have to soak into the material/paper. This method can produce photos-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. Because of its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and varied nature, UV printing will be the future in packaging and printing technology.