Up until now UV applications have primarily been the domain of packaging printers and specialists.
In the current market, when short lead times increasingly bring competitive advantages, UV is becoming an attractive proposition for commercial printers, too. To fulfill this demand Heidelberg with the cooperation of IST Metz GmbH is offering Dry Star LE UV curing systems. Heidelberg says the current range of DryStar UV products is too large for simple 4c applications, so they are now offering solution for commercial printers in the form of the DryStar LE UV. The DryStar LE UV is based on the Peak Performance components technology in the DryStar UV series.
Heidelberg claims LEDs deliver their full output as soon as they are switched on—no standby mode is necessary. The option of switching LEDs on and off in line with the format and using LED segments in the relevant format width saves energy. Long-lasting LEDs mean lower service costs and fewer changeovers.
Depending on a system’s capacity utilization, UV LEDs are projected to last for 20,000 hours. DryStar UV LED can be used in the delivery and or as an interdeck dryer for maximum flexibility. Heidelberg currently has an LED SX 102 available for demo in its Print Media Center in Wiesloch, Germany. Heidelberg now wants to promote this technology here in the Middle East. But the question is does this system makes sense for printers in our region?
It seems that there isn’t any great incentive to install UV in a standard commercial printing house whose work is mainly four/five colours on conventional gloss or silk coated stock of 100/135+gsm.
Komori has made much of the running on UV in its various forms, but it uses its Japanese experience as the basis for its positive stance.
This is misleading; Japanese demand high gloss printing using lacquer inks which take considerable energy to dry; the industry there demands fast turnaround in part because factories are small and paper can often be left outside and drawn on throughout the day. Energy is expensive and there is a high value aspect in the land.
Few of Japan’s economic challenges exist in Dubai. Printers in Dubai face competitive pricing challenges and so saving costs and faster turnarounds have appeal.
I am blown if I can see any advantage in UV for a commercial printer in Dubai. Sure in packaging apps UV has appeal but even here conventional UV is adequate. I could not locate any UK printer using LE UV or even conventional UV for commercial work.
Read More: A Very Good Option For Sheetfed Printers
Jean-Philippe Fournier From IST METZ Tells ME Printer Why UV-LE Technolgoy Can Help Commercial Printers Make More Money While Reduce The Turaround Time.
