UV - It's Good ... But Be Careful
November 2005
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UV inks are a great addition to the world of flexographic printing, but knowing the simple do's and don'ts will keep converters' blood pressure under control.
AHHH, ULTRAVIOLET (UV) flexographic printing … it's great! The use of UV materials in general, is making the printing market a bit more rewarding for some, as long as they are used correctly in particular applications. For instance, there are different rules for medical applications than for food applications. packagePRINTING spoke with some experts in the field to find out what printers need to know to incorporate UV flexographic printing in their arsenal.
You are what you eat
In the October issue of packagePRINTING, there was an in-depth discussion on UV and Electron Beam (EB) inks, and how RadTech is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to get UV/EB inks approved for use in direct contact with food. Until that happens, though, printers are still running UV inks in food packaging, but not in direct contact with food stuffs—there's usually a layer of some other material between the packaging and the food. Even though this makes it safe for the consumer, there are rules and regulations a printer must follow.
Zubair Khan, director technical development—energy curable products for Environmental Inks and Coatings, stresses the importance of monitoring extractables when running UV inks or coatings for indirect contact with food packaging and being wary of different ink products that are offered throughout the industry. "Printers have to be careful about the low-extractable products being offered by some companies. Unless printers have tight control over their processes, ensuring the highest degree of cure and repeatable print reproduction using low-extractable products, they should not venture into this area of food packaging using UV technology," he said. He offered cationic UV inks as a still-popular technology for indirect contact with food applications due to their advantage of post curing, which results in a high degree of cure.
In medical applications, Khan warns printers strongly about the use of UV. "UV inks or coatings are not recommended for any applications that may result in incidental contact with skin, body fluids, labels for blood bags, or indirect contact with medication," he said.
Unraveling the mystery
Bob Waddington, general manager, UVitec Printing Ink, understands the ins and outs of UV flexographic printing, but knows many printers still shy away from the technology because of common misconceptions about the printing process. He offered a list of these untruths:
AHHH, ULTRAVIOLET (UV) flexographic printing … it's great! The use of UV materials in general, is making the printing market a bit more rewarding for some, as long as they are used correctly in particular applications. For instance, there are different rules for medical applications than for food applications. packagePRINTING spoke with some experts in the field to find out what printers need to know to incorporate UV flexographic printing in their arsenal.
You are what you eat
In the October issue of packagePRINTING, there was an in-depth discussion on UV and Electron Beam (EB) inks, and how RadTech is working with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to get UV/EB inks approved for use in direct contact with food. Until that happens, though, printers are still running UV inks in food packaging, but not in direct contact with food stuffs—there's usually a layer of some other material between the packaging and the food. Even though this makes it safe for the consumer, there are rules and regulations a printer must follow.
Zubair Khan, director technical development—energy curable products for Environmental Inks and Coatings, stresses the importance of monitoring extractables when running UV inks or coatings for indirect contact with food packaging and being wary of different ink products that are offered throughout the industry. "Printers have to be careful about the low-extractable products being offered by some companies. Unless printers have tight control over their processes, ensuring the highest degree of cure and repeatable print reproduction using low-extractable products, they should not venture into this area of food packaging using UV technology," he said. He offered cationic UV inks as a still-popular technology for indirect contact with food applications due to their advantage of post curing, which results in a high degree of cure.
In medical applications, Khan warns printers strongly about the use of UV. "UV inks or coatings are not recommended for any applications that may result in incidental contact with skin, body fluids, labels for blood bags, or indirect contact with medication," he said.
Unraveling the mystery
Bob Waddington, general manager, UVitec Printing Ink, understands the ins and outs of UV flexographic printing, but knows many printers still shy away from the technology because of common misconceptions about the printing process. He offered a list of these untruths:
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