UV Printing: An Emerging Technology In The Packaging And Printing Industry
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 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.
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. These solvents evaporate into the air, allowing ink to soak into the surface faster and leaving behind a digital image once it has dried. 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 printed quickly. The ink is applied to the material by the printer. UV lights quickly dry the ink. Ultraviolet printing, which is more sustainable than other methods, is currently a hot topic in the printing industry.
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 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 View website UV Printing
Led-UV printing, the latest technology in UV printing, produces wavelengths of 385-395nm (nanometer). This new UV spectrum is safer than the older one and produces superior results to 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. Its faster drying time makes it more reliable in the FMCG and pharmaceutical industries. Superior finishing and color enhancements are available to customers for final printed products. This leaves a lasting impression.
LED-UV printing can be considered a sustainable and green technology. It emits no volatile organic compounds (VOC) during printing. While companies require less infrastructure for LED printing units, consumers receive a premium product with a glossy 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 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. These inks were not cured, so they could be contaminated. Also, the final food packaging was not up to standard.
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. This technique is being used by more food manufacturers to create customized food products while maintaining high quality standards.
UV Printing in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Every industry has its own labeling requirements. Different industries require different printing technologies. Every brand has its own aesthetic appeal. One form of security printing used in the pharmaceutical sector is UV printing.
Pharmaceutical labels, such as drug and medical brands, are unique in that they can be vulnerable to counterfeiting or forgery. In order to combat these practices, UV printing is used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Pharmaceutical printing uses invisible UV inks. This has been shown to be one of most effective techniques to prevent counterfeiting in the pharmaceutical sector. 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
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 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. 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.
Bright Finish: UV printing gives you a vibrant look because the ink doesn't have to soak into the material/paper. 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.
