The Emerging Technology Of UV Printing For 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. The printer will pass over the areas where ink is printed. Ultraviolet light follows closely behind and instantly "cure" or dry the ink.
Ultraviolet printing provides direct printing capabilities onto an almost endless range of flat and 3D media, enabling easy product customization. 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.
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 evaporation of these solvents allows the ink to absorb into the surface more readily and, once evaporated, leaves behind a digital image. 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. Ultraviolet printing is currently a trending topic within the printing sector and is more sustainable than conventional techniques.
UV ink can be printed directly on the substrate (material), and it transforms almost instantly from liquid to solid 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 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, 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. It also consumes less power than conventional UV printing.
LED UV printing provides the quality luxury businesses desire. Its faster drying time makes it more reliable in the FMCG and pharmaceutical industries. 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
Personalization is a rapidly growing industry worldwide. Digital UV printing offers a great way to meet that demand, increase product sales and remain competitive.
Conventional printing techniques were dangerous as food items could become contaminated if ink substances were transferred from the printing plate onto the packaging. These inks were not cured, so they could be contaminated. The final packaging of food was also not up to standards.
This method of printing food packaging labels has proven to be a very successful one. UV inks cure while printing, so there are no hazardous solvents left that could contaminate the contents. Food manufacturers are increasingly using this method to customize food items and maintain high quality standards.
UV Printing for Pharmaceutical Industry
Every industry has its own labeling requirements. Different applications necessitate different printing technology, from pharmaceutical to sports and food labels, durable to beverages and cosmetics - every brand comes with its aesthetic appeal. One form of security printing used in the pharmaceutical sector is UV printing.
Uniquely, pharmaceutical labels such as medical and drug brand names can be susceptible 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 uses invisible UV inks. This has been shown to be one of most effective techniques to prevent counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical sector. These inks are not visible to the naked eye but can be lit 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 argues that ultraviolet printing is the future of packaging and printing. It is economical and environmentally friendly, and its business-generating advantages are vast.
LED Print Applications: LEDs provide a cool and dry touch with minimal heat output, making them ideal for printing on heat-sensitive substrates such as self-adhesive sheets, thin slides, or 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!
It is economical: This method can help you save significant money because Additional info of its quicker drying time. As the finished product dries quickly, you can print more anytime. 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 method can create photo-realistic prints.
The Bottom Line
The emerging trend of UV printing will continue to grow in the future and be used across many industries. Because of its eco-friendly, cost-effective, and varied nature, UV printing will be the future in packaging and printing technology.
