Continuous Change, Continuous Challenge

UV printer LogoTech doesn’t stand pat. With a vision and road map for the future, this label printer has big plans.

Every printing technique has its advantages and disadvantages. UV printing is no different. Although the colors are often vibrant and cleanup simplified, there are environmental considerations to address. Every printer has a different reason for trying out a new technique or process, but for LogoTech (Fairfield, N.J., www.logotech-inc.com) UV printing has been a way of life since its inception.

Far-away origins

LogoTech has been in existence since 1996, but its origins are in Israel. The Tadbik Group, founded in 1982, grew to be Israel's largest packaging group, starting with pressure-sensitive labels, and growing to in mold labeling (IML), shrink, flexible packaging plus label and shrink sleeve application equipment, according to Leslie Gurland, LogoTech's president. In 1995, Tadbik began researching the American market and decided to open a plant here. LogoTech has always produced pressure-sensitive labels at the Fairfield location.

Gurland states that for a mid-sized printer, the company is unique in the services it offers. "We offer three printing methods and also offer silkscreen, hotstamping, and embossing," she says.

UV print shop

LogoTech prints on three Gallus (www.gallus-group.com) letterpress presses, one Arsoma flexographic press, and one HP Indigo (www.hp.com) press. Its Gallus presses can only use UV inks, though the flexo press can employ water-based inks. "We've always existed as a company doing UV," says Gurland. "So it's never been a thought of why certain products would run with UV inks or coatings."

It's also a question of quality. "We believe UV inks offer higher quality compared to water-based," contends Gurland. Anita Sparrow, operations manager adds, "We like the way UV ink transfers onto the substrate. Consistency is a big deal for us. When the pigments come in a certain density, religiously, over and over again, it's a lot easier for us to set up a job and be consistent from a repeat job aspect."

The company uses multiple suppliers for curing equipment and inks, according to Gurland. "We try to keep in contact with suppliers to understand what is new," she says. "We are always willing to try new products, and work with suppliers as a testing site for their new developments."

Although LogoTech has always been a UV shop, Gurland is not sure how pervasive UV printing has become overall. "We are not sure that is the real issue or question," she asserts. "Yes, UV has become pervasive in the label printing market, but the question is what about the future. UV inks must become environmentally friendly and still meet the same quality of printing that they currently offer. Whether it is soy-based or not, the product must meet the growing environmental demands of the end consumer," she says. Environmental friendliness is one challenge for UV printers and suppliers alike.

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