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UV inks are commonly used in package-printing applications. So much so that Don Duncan, director of R&D, Wikoff Color Corp., thinks it’s about time to rephrase how we reference ink categories.
In referring to water-based and solvent-based inks, he says, “I use the phrase ‘so-called conventional’ because UV inks are now so common that they are no longer ‘unconventional.’ We need a new word for the mixture of oil-based, water-based, or solvent-based inks that UV is replacing. How about ‘old-technology.’”
The term “old technology” might not fly (Duncan admits that it’s “a little over-the-top”), but the point is well made. UV inks are firmly established and are having significant positive impacts on print quality and consistency.
UV inks are being used in a wide range of product categories. Mike Buystedt, director of new market development, XSYS Print Solutions, lists a diverse collage: wine labels, HBA, non-direct food labels and food packaging, food cartons, and pouches, to name a few.
Bob Waddington, general manager for UVitec Printing Ink, believes that UV inks are a good fit for markets such as these, “because they print sharper, enable the printer to utilize higher press speeds, and enable the printer to finish converting immediately after printing.”
In looking at the use of UV inks, Duncan addresses the higher acquisition cost of UV inks. “Since UV inks are more expensive than so-called ‘conventional’ inks, the application must require some performance property from the UV ink in order to pay the cost. This will normally be the immediate drying that one gets from UV inks, their sharper printing, their higher chemical/moisture resistance, broad adhesion properties, or their ability to UV coat in-line.”
The higher acquisition cost of UV is one of the factors that dictates what types of products will consider using UV inks. Kurt Hudson, general manager, UV products for Water Ink Technologies, says there are two general rules for the likelihood of using UV inks. As the cost of the substrate goes up or the cost of the product itself goes up, UV inks are more likely to be found in the packaging. The reason is not just the higher cost of the inks, but products such as these can support, and more likely require, the higher print quality that UV inks can offer.
“UV inks can provide inherent durability, along with consistency in character definition and graphics,” says Hudson. “You can print cleaner in very, very fine copy, and product number one looks just like product number 1,000.”
In referring to water-based and solvent-based inks, he says, “I use the phrase ‘so-called conventional’ because UV inks are now so common that they are no longer ‘unconventional.’ We need a new word for the mixture of oil-based, water-based, or solvent-based inks that UV is replacing. How about ‘old-technology.’”
The term “old technology” might not fly (Duncan admits that it’s “a little over-the-top”), but the point is well made. UV inks are firmly established and are having significant positive impacts on print quality and consistency.
UV inks are being used in a wide range of product categories. Mike Buystedt, director of new market development, XSYS Print Solutions, lists a diverse collage: wine labels, HBA, non-direct food labels and food packaging, food cartons, and pouches, to name a few.
Bob Waddington, general manager for UVitec Printing Ink, believes that UV inks are a good fit for markets such as these, “because they print sharper, enable the printer to utilize higher press speeds, and enable the printer to finish converting immediately after printing.”
In looking at the use of UV inks, Duncan addresses the higher acquisition cost of UV inks. “Since UV inks are more expensive than so-called ‘conventional’ inks, the application must require some performance property from the UV ink in order to pay the cost. This will normally be the immediate drying that one gets from UV inks, their sharper printing, their higher chemical/moisture resistance, broad adhesion properties, or their ability to UV coat in-line.”
The higher acquisition cost of UV is one of the factors that dictates what types of products will consider using UV inks. Kurt Hudson, general manager, UV products for Water Ink Technologies, says there are two general rules for the likelihood of using UV inks. As the cost of the substrate goes up or the cost of the product itself goes up, UV inks are more likely to be found in the packaging. The reason is not just the higher cost of the inks, but products such as these can support, and more likely require, the higher print quality that UV inks can offer.
“UV inks can provide inherent durability, along with consistency in character definition and graphics,” says Hudson. “You can print cleaner in very, very fine copy, and product number one looks just like product number 1,000.”
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