What's All the Buzz?
March 2005
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Energy curable. It's the latest buzz and time has proven that UV and EB curing of coatings and adhesives can save printers time and money. And that's a goal that is as sweet as honey.
PICTURE IT: COMPANY XYZ calls you for 10 rolls of your finest flexible packaging. Oh, and can you add a laminate to that, too? Oh, and one more thing … we need it by Thursday. So what do you do? You complete the order as quickly as possible and then start the hunt for a technology that can solve this problem on a permanent basis. This is where ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) curable coatings and adhesives can come into play.
Currently, many converters use the ol' "let's glue these layers together and then let them sit in the warehouse for hours and even days until they are completely dried" way of curing. A good practice if one is leavening bread. Not a good practice if one is competing with many other printers for the same job. packagePRINTING asked some manufacturers of UV and EB products what they have to offer customers.
So really, what is it?
Knowing if UV or EB is the way to go, starts with knowing exactly what they are. There are some similarities, but many differences as well.
According to Rick Sanders, sales and marketing, Energy Sciences Inc., EB is prevalent in the conversion of food packaging, and it involves accelerated electrons passing through a foil window that penetrates the product or materials. The electrons cause the desired and almost instantaneous changes in the EB curing material. These changes typically result in better visual properties than water-based materials, and can provide enhanced shelf appeal, he says.
One similarity between EB and UV is their highly sought-after ability to cure instantly. While EB uses a beam of electrons to accomplish this, UV employs a specific wavelength of light from a lamp that causes a reaction with a component (photoinitiator) in the material. UV coatings are usually clear, but some opaque offerings are starting to hit the market. Jim McCusker, president of Honle UV, said. "UV is an extremely established technology and fundamental in the label industry."
So what are the perks?
It's difficult to speak about any technology without talking about that not-so-taboo subject, "Hey, what's this going to cost me?" It's a good question—a simple one that may bring out more of the similarities in the two technologies. Yes, both have an opportunity to save the printer money, but one has to know where to look to actually see the savings.
PICTURE IT: COMPANY XYZ calls you for 10 rolls of your finest flexible packaging. Oh, and can you add a laminate to that, too? Oh, and one more thing … we need it by Thursday. So what do you do? You complete the order as quickly as possible and then start the hunt for a technology that can solve this problem on a permanent basis. This is where ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) curable coatings and adhesives can come into play.
Currently, many converters use the ol' "let's glue these layers together and then let them sit in the warehouse for hours and even days until they are completely dried" way of curing. A good practice if one is leavening bread. Not a good practice if one is competing with many other printers for the same job. packagePRINTING asked some manufacturers of UV and EB products what they have to offer customers.
So really, what is it?
Knowing if UV or EB is the way to go, starts with knowing exactly what they are. There are some similarities, but many differences as well.
According to Rick Sanders, sales and marketing, Energy Sciences Inc., EB is prevalent in the conversion of food packaging, and it involves accelerated electrons passing through a foil window that penetrates the product or materials. The electrons cause the desired and almost instantaneous changes in the EB curing material. These changes typically result in better visual properties than water-based materials, and can provide enhanced shelf appeal, he says.
One similarity between EB and UV is their highly sought-after ability to cure instantly. While EB uses a beam of electrons to accomplish this, UV employs a specific wavelength of light from a lamp that causes a reaction with a component (photoinitiator) in the material. UV coatings are usually clear, but some opaque offerings are starting to hit the market. Jim McCusker, president of Honle UV, said. "UV is an extremely established technology and fundamental in the label industry."
So what are the perks?
It's difficult to speak about any technology without talking about that not-so-taboo subject, "Hey, what's this going to cost me?" It's a good question—a simple one that may bring out more of the similarities in the two technologies. Yes, both have an opportunity to save the printer money, but one has to know where to look to actually see the savings.
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