UV Curing Solutions

 

American Ultraviolet West Inc. (LESCO Division, Torrance, CA) is actively looking for new Representatives and Distributors throughout the country to sell our UV Spot Curing, Chambers and Conveyor lines. If interested, please complete and submit this INQUIRY FORM for consideration.
UV Curing Solutions

Curing Solutions FAQs

Where are your equipment and parts made?

What size UV lamp do I need?

What type of UV lamp do I need— Mercury, Gallium or Metal Halide (Iron)—and what wattages?

Is UV Curing only used for screen printing?

Can one conveyor do all the things mentioned above?

Can we buy only the lamp assembly and power supply to make our own system?

When buying a conveyor system, do we have to put it together?

Do you have UV lab equipment that will assist in doing testing and color matching?

Do you make systems to retrofit existing gas and electric IR dryers?

Do you have to exhaust the UV system?

If we have samples, can you do testing for us?

How much light per inch does a UV lamp give off?

Is the heat around the press excessive?

What is the average bulb life?

What guarantee do we have that this system will do what we want it to?

How long does it take to install a UV system?

Can I cure my water- or solvent-based ink with UV?

What will I have to change on my press to switch to UV ink?

What environmental concerns will I have with disposal of cured and uncured UV chemistry?

How do the costs associated with UV curing compare to conventional inks?

What maintenance items are typically associated with UV curing systems?

What percentage of flexo printers currently use UV in at least one or more print stations?

How do you know if the cure is complete? How much power is needed to attain full cure?

Why use UV?

Does it cost more to operate a UV system than a conventional thermal oven for curing?

Why do UV inks and coatings have a strong odor after curing?

Can UV be used with thin film substrates that are heat- sensitive?

With UV equipment mounted on my press, should web tension be maintained in a web-stop condition?

Will the use of hot-air dryers in the print stations along with UV enhance the drying process?

How do I dispose of mercury relays?

Q: Where are your equipment and parts made?

A: American Ultraviolet® equipment is manufactured with pride in Lebanon, Indiana, USA.

Q: What size UV lamp do I need?

A: We recommend a UV lamp at least two inches longer than your product or print size.

Q: What type of UV lamp do I need— Mercury, Gallium or Metal Halide (Iron)—and what wattages?

A: We recommend that you ask your coating and Ink supplier if they can guide you in the right direction. If not, please call American Ultraviolet® Company and we will be happy to assist you.

Q: Is UV Curing only used for screen printing?

A: No. There are many different application for the use of UV: powder coating, wood coating and finishing, fiber optics, medical devices, automotive, adhesives, digital printing, digital display, narrow web and offset. There are also many other substrates, such as plastics, glass composites, floor tiles, and the list goes on. Please call us at American Ultraviolet® Company if your product is not mentioned in the above list to see if UV can work for you.

Q: Can one conveyor do all the things mentioned above?

A: No. We at American Ultraviolet® Company listen to your needs and requirements to design and engineer state-of-the-art equipment for your application.


Q: Can we buy only the lamp assembly and power supply to make our own system?

A: Yes, you can, and, if you like, we will give you technical support and recommendations.

Q: When buying a conveyor system, do we have to put it together?

A: No. At American Ultraviolet®, our systems come completely assembled and crated. All you need to do is follow the instructions on how to remove the system from the crate (skid). Then have a qualified electrician wire the main power to the system. Follow the leveling procedure in the manual, and install the lamps. It's that easy.

Q: Do you have UV lab equipment that will assist in doing testing and color matching?

A: Yes, we have a complete line of UV systems from stand-alone lamp assemblies to conveyorized systems.

Q: Do you make systems to retrofit existing gas and electric IR dryers?

A: Yes. We at American Ultraviolet® Company can design a complete system for your dryer.

Q: Do you have to exhaust the UV system?

A: Yes. American Ultraviolet® UV systems come with total exhaust specifications and requirements, for exhausting the UV system correctly.

Q: If we have samples, can you do testing for us?

A: Yes. We have the capability to run your samples in our lab with a variety of different types of seeded lamps and UV systems to meet your requirements.

Q: How much light per inch does a UV lamp give off?

A: There is a difference between Operating power—expressed in watts per inch—and UV energy delivered to the substrate—integrated energy and peak irradiance.

Although operating power (watts per inch) and UV energy delivered to the substrate are relational, all systems do not operate at equivalent efficiencies and do not provide equivalent UV energy to the substrate for equivalent input power. Because of the technically effective lamp design, an Aetek® 400 W/in UltraPak can actually deliver greater UV energy to the substrate than other 600 W/in systems.

Watts per inch is operating power. The Aetek® UltraPak system's operating power is a maximum of 400 W/in (per lamp). The system has three power levels – 200 W, 300 W and 400 W—and the power level used is determined by the speed of the web (i.e., power levels change as web speed increases).

UV energy delivered to the substrate is a function of optics, lamp housing and bulb dimension. The Aetek® UltraPak System delivers superior UV energy to the web/substrate at any given input power level.

The UV energy output is measured in milli-joules per centimeter squared (mJ/cm2) for the integrated energy (or dose) and watts per centimeter squared (W/cm2) for the peak irradiance (or focused power directly under the lamp). Each measure can be broken down into individual bandwidth (UV A, UV B, UV C, and UV V) which is used to confirm a proper bulb-to-chemistry match.

Note: the integrated energy is a function of time (i.e. the longer the time exposure the more dose-energy imparted to the substrate) while the irradiance stays the same at all speeds, as it is not time dependant.


Q: Is the heat around the press excessive?

A: No, although all arc lamps that generate UV operate at high temperatures, proper system design includes lamp cooling, via air or water or both, to extract and exhaust the heat away from the press area. This keeps the outer lamp housing from becoming dangerously hot.

Aetek®'s air-cooled design relies on air flow through the lamp housing to keep the housing from emitting excessive heat. Exhaust air is generally drawn out of the facility, thereby removing the heat. Similarly, the water-cooled design relies on chilled water flow through the lamp housing to remove heat, and the heated water is passed through a closed-loop chiller. Press operators will not be subject to discomfort caused by heat from the lamp housings.

Additionally, Aetek® has incorporated safety interlocks into the system to prevent heat damage to the substrate should the web stop with the shutters open. In this case, the interface signal from the press will tell the lamp to go to standby power and the shutters to close.


Q: What is the average bulb life?

A: Most lamps are warranted for 1,000 hours of use, and many users attain as much as 2000 hours of useful life. Actual life will depend on power levels used to cure (using only low and medium power levels will extend the life of a lamp); maintenance programs that include regular cleaning of the bulbs and reflectors (if allowed to remain dirty, the power level needed to cure must be increased, which will shorten lamp life); excessive heat in the lamp housing caused by improper airflow (i.e., the blower is not functioning, or the air hoses are damaged or blocked), which will shorten lamp life.


Q: What guarantee do we have that this system will do what we want it to?

A: American Ultraviolet guarantees that the system will deliver the stated integrated energy and peak irradiance as per the normal performance specifications for that lamp at a specified process speed and operating power level. Each application can be tested in our lab in advance to insure proper cure will result with a sample of your chemistry and substrate and the proper lay-down required for your application. We offer a two-year warrantee for systems to provide assurance that all components will function as expected.


Q: How long does it take to install a UV system?

A: A UV system can be installed quickly (a matter of hours to a couple of days) if the preparation work is completed when the system and technician arrive on site.


Q: Can I cure my water- or solvent-based ink with UV?

A: No, although there is a heat emitted from the UV system, it is not an effective way to thermally cure inks or coatings. A combination dryer with hot air or IR in addition to the UV lamps is the recommended solution for those applications that require frequent switching from one type of chemistry to another.


Q: What will I have to change on my press to switch to UV ink?

A: That depends somewhat on the type and make of press, but in most cases the new UV inks are much less viscous than in the past, such that they are close to the viscosity of solvent- or water-based inks and require a change in the ink delivery system. On Flexo presses, it is common to change the anilox rolls, but again, with the newer UV inks, that is not always necessary. Additionally, it has been found that the rubber compound on some rolls is not well suited for UV inks and will give short life if not changed to a more durable UV compound rubber. Check with the press manufacturer to get a complete review of recommended changes.


Q: What environmental concerns will I have with disposal of cured and uncured UV chemistry?

A: Cured UV chemistry can be disposed of in the normal waste stream, as they are not considered to be hazardous waste. Uncured ink must be disposed of per the manufacturer's recommendations and state or local ordinances regarding the chemical components of the ink.


Q: How do the costs associated with UV curing compare to conventional inks?

A: Although UV inks are typically more expensive than solvent- or water-based inks, they provide more useable coverage, as they are 100% solids—that is, they require less ink to attain the same color density as a thermal-cured ink because a portion of the thermal-cured ink evaporates. Additionally, UV inks do not dry in the ink train and therefore do not require daily wash ups, and most printers are able to run at faster speeds using UV inks. The net result is that when the labor to perform wash-ups, startup time and production are factored in along with the ink usage, UV inks are actually less costly to a printing operation than solvent- or water-based inks.


Q: What maintenance items are typically associated with UV curing systems?

A: The bulb and reflector liners require regular maintenance to keep them clean, with the service interval depending on the process. Bulbs and reflector liners should be cleaned with alcohol and clean paper towels. Other maintenance items include mercury relays, pneumatic valves, filters and limit switches on a very infrequent interval.


Q: What percentage of flexo printers currently use UV in at least one or more print stations?

A: It is hard to know for sure how many existing presses are equipped with UV. Many of the presses prior to approximately 1996 were not well arranged to accept UV. However, since 1996, most press manufactures have included a UV consideration in the design of their newer equipment. Depending on the manufacturer (some are targeted for markets that have adopted more UV usage than others), UV lamps are equipped on at least one location (usually end of station for curing of varnishes or other coatings) on over 60% of the new in-line flexo presses sold. Additionally, UV lamps are equipped in all print stations on over 30% of all new in-line flexo presses sold. The number of presses equipped with UV continues to grow each year.

Note: in Europe, where more than 85% of new in-line presses sold have full UV—for performance as well as environmental advantages—the use of UV has grown faster than in the U.S.

Q: How do you know if the cure is complete?

A: There are two common tests for completeness of cure or the polymerization process. They are a tape test to determine adhesion of the ink or coating to the substrate and a scratch test to determine that the cure is full depth. Additionally, many UV chemistries continue to cure after exposure to UV lamps—this is known as a post cure. Post cure takes place off-press and further enhances the physical properties of the ink or coating in terms of toughness and adhesion.


Q: How much power is needed to attain full cure?

A: That depends on the thickness or lay-down of the ink or coating, as well as the press speed. If thickness or press speed increases the UV power may also need to increase. This can only be determined on-press and should include sampling as per the tape and scratch tests for full cure described above.


Q: Why use UV?

A: The UV process enables the press to deliver higher-quality work—better color density with very little dot gain (as low as 3%) at faster press speeds. Additionally, startup is faster and clean-up is less time-consuming, so labor is reduced. Finally, the cost of UV chemistry on a coverage basis is less expensive than with solvent- or water-based inks and coatings, and the UV curing process consumes less electrical energy than that of hot air of IR ovens to effect drying. Please see the papers "Why Use UV," and "Quality Improvements Through the UV Curing Process" in the Tech Sheets section of the web site.


Q: Does it cost more to operate a UV system than a conventional thermal oven for curing?

A: No. In fact, just the opposite. New UV systems have become even more energy-efficient and so have increased the savings of operating a UV system rather than a hot-air or IR dryer. Please see the paper "Why Use UV" in the Tech Sheets section of the web site.


Q: Why do UV inks and coatings have a strong odor after curing?

A: This is a stigma from the past. The post-cure odor of the past was associated with the photo-initiator used to effect the polymerization of the monomers and oligimers in the UV chemistry. Current photo-initiators used in UV chemistries have little to no post-cure odor. Again, the post-cure odor is history and no longer present with newer photo-initiators.


Q: Can UV be used with thin film substrates that are heat- sensitive?

A: Absolutely.  There are a number of means to abate the heat emitted to the substrate from the UV lamp. With the UltraPak, a combination of dichroic shutters and a dichroic quartz filter allows use of filmic materials down to about 2 mil without the need for chill rolls. We would be pleased to assist a prospect in running a sample of the intended film via use of demo equipment that can be fitted to the prospects' press.


Q: With UV equipment mounted on my press, should web tension be maintained in a web-stop condition?

A: It is advisable to maintain tension control of the web so as to prevent web lift within the lamp structure when web motion resumes.


Q: Will the use of hot-air dryers in the print stations along with UV enhance the drying process?

A: Although for most printing applications hot air would indeed only add to the excessive formation of heat, for some types of coatings and adhesive applications some additional heat seems to pre activate the photoinitiator sets, resulting in a more through and faster cure.


Q: How do I dispose of mercury relays?

A: Please click here for answer.