Converter Magazine February 2016

FEATURE Drying, Curing & UV

LED UV gains momentum in commercial printing

The development of LEDs as a light source for curing inks and varnishes has meant that the benefits of UV technology are

now also available in commercial printing. In the next few years, experts anticipate a marked growth in the market share of LED UV systems. The particular advantages ensure cost-efficient and energy-saving production. LED UV units are ready to use as soon as they are switched on, and transmit only minimal heat to the substrate. These compact systems boast a particularly long service life. The LEDs can also be individually controlled, depending on where light is required on the substrate. IST METZ supplies both UV systems, with medium-pressure lamps, and LED systems. The latest LED series is called LUV, and is available in different output levels. The LUV 80 model is designed for a working distance of 30mm or more, and is used by Druckerei Hertle and Häuser in Germany, among others. Both printing firms spoke of their experiences at a special event held by IST METZ at the end of November. Häuser KG has installed two LED units

from IST METZ on a Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105. The directors of the company, based in Cologne, also run an online print shop and today, Häuser produces around 80 per cent for online and 20 per cent for traditional business. Häuser decided to use LED UV technology in order that its printed matter would be more abrasion-resistant, and could be further processed if necessary. On the

Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 with two retrofitted LED UV feed units (one above the turning mechanism and one in the delivery chute) with water cooling, ink agitators are now used to maintain the correct flow characteristics of the UV ink. The printing inks are cured immediately and no powder is required, saving several hours of production time, and 13,000 to 15,000 sheets per hour are produced. Häuser says it intends to retrofit further

presses in the future. Also this year, commercial printing firm Hertle installed an LUV 80 LED curing system. The company was spurred to make this investment by one of its major clients – a publisher of greetings cards that found delivery times too long. For reasons of space, Hertle decided to update its existing Heidelberg Speedmaster SM 74-5. At the IST METZ Information Day, managing director, Robert Hertle, reported that previously the company had been compelled to allow three to five days for drying the cards. UV drying enabled them to dispense with this time, as well as the time and staff required to sort out paper waste. In addition, the upgrade meant the company was able to add substrates, such as mirror cards, plastic film and natural paper. The reports from these two users were joined by presentations from Epple Druckfarben about the properties of LED inks and varnishes, and from Fujifilm Europe on printing plate technology for UV printing. A presentation by IST METZ itself discussed the advantages of LED technology in commercial printing.

IST METZ expands LED business with new management

L-R: Christian-Marius Metz, Holger Kühn, and Dr. Robert Sänger

IST METZ is taking the growing business with LED UV systems into account. In May, the company acquired the majority interest in Integration Technology Ltd, and the reorganisation of IST METZ’s management board followed recently.

Christian Lenz, sales manager sheetfed applications at IST METZ, explains the differences between lamp and LED UV technology at the company’s Information Day

www.convertermag.co.uk

The UV market is changing, says the company. Besides the classic UV medium pressure lamps, in recent years the curing of inks and varnishes by means of UV LEDs has been established. This has even opened up whole new business areas, like in the industrial joining technology. Offering both types of UV systems, IST METZ has even further expanded the LED business this year. Apart from the successful market launch of its own high- performance LED products, the acquisition of the majority interest in the British UV systems manufacturer Integration Technology brought an additional gain in expertise in this field. Due to the greater focus on technological development, the management board of IST METZ has also been reorganised. Christian- Marius Metz, grandson of deceased company founder Gerhard Metz, and previous head of the central area operations and services, was appointed CEO. Holger Kühn was made managing director of sales; he has been part of the company for 17 years. Dr. Robert Sänger is completing the management board from the start of this year as managing director technology. Having been head of development at the subsidiary eta plus electronic, he will now join the parent company. www.ist-uv.com

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