Sustainability has become a crucial topic in today’s world as the global population continues to grow rapidly, putting strain on finite resources. As the number of densely populated cities increases, it is evident that both individuals and businesses must adopt sustainable practices to safeguard our planet’s future.
One area where sustainability has made significant strides is in the Print sector, with UV LED curing emerging as a game-changer. UV LED curing technology has garnered significant attention due to its pronounced sustainability benefits; however, it is important to recognize that its value extends beyond ecological considerations. While sustainability remains a crucial factor for many organizations, some may find that it alone does not justify the investment in new equipment.
IKEA’s LED Lighting Revolution: A Parallel to LED Curing
IKEA’s transformation from traditional lighting to selling LED-based lighting serves as an excellent example of how sustainability and design advantages go hand in hand. LED lighting not only reduces energy consumption but also offers a new realm of possibilities in terms of product design and functionality. Similarly, the shift to LED curing provides businesses with innovative opportunities to improve production processes and enhance application capabilities.
“LED is a light revolution. With household electricity bills continuing to rise rapidly and global energy consumption increasing, LED lighting will have a big impact. Building on our belief that everyone should be able to afford to live more sustainably at home, we will make sure our LED prices are affordable for the many.”
“LED is also a design revolution. The small diodes can be integrated into almost any product. It will be possible to design smaller lamps, thinner structures and a more carefully spread light,”
Steve Howard, former Chief Sustainability Office, Ikea Group
The point here is that not only did he see the sustainability aspects, he also saw the design advantages, and when you think about all the products like animal-shaped kids’ lamps, you understand the possibilities the change gave them. It is the same story for the conversion to LED curing.
LED technology represents a highly stable and robust development that has already found extensive implementation in various aspects of modern life, such as lighting, electrical devices, and mobile phones, among others. In the context of curing applications, the transition to LED technology not only makes logical sense but also embodies a significant leap forward in technological advancement.
The unique characteristics of LED diodes employed in curing systems present an opportunity to overcome existing challenges associated with conventional arc lamps. When seamlessly integrated into presses or production lines, LED curing yields print quality performance on par with conventional curing methods. Moreover, LED curable inks are formulated to optimize the emitted wavelengths, and an extensive selection of inks from multiple suppliers is readily available. As ongoing raw material developments progress, any lingering scepticism surrounding the feasibility of coatings with LED curing can be confidently dismissed.
One of the most remarkable advantages of LED curing lies in its emission of longer wavelengths, which has proven to enhance through cure in formulations, including heavily pigmented white Inks, resulting in substantially improved curing results.
In addition to its application benefits, UV LED curing represents a cooler curing process, devoid of all infrared wavelengths, offering a substantial reduction in heat generation, compared to traditional arc lamps, enabling the use of substrates and materials previously unsuitable for UV curing. Consequently, the ability to work with smaller and therefore lower cost materials further underscores the economic advantages of LED curing.
The ultimate application advantage stems from the inherent nature of LED curing, allowing instantaneous on and off capabilities innovatively utilised in IST INTECH products through their addressability functions, facilitating the creation of systems with individually controllable and monitored arrays. By employing addressability, curing length can be tailored to match the print width on a job-by-job basis, ensuring that only the required LEDs are activated. As a result, businesses gain enhanced control over their curing processes, maximizing efficiency and resource utilization.
Facilitating seamless integration into existing processes, the compact and modular designs of LED curing systems enable effortless adaptation and flexibility. IST INTECH offers a comprehensive range of standard and customizable systems, ensuring a perfect solution that aligns precisely with each client’s unique requirements. The inherent durability and reduced maintenance demands of IST INTECH systems minimize production interruptions, while their field-maintainable design underscores practicality and ease of use.
In conclusion, the transformative potential of LED curing technology extends far beyond sustainability considerations. Its application advantages, technological innovations, and unparalleled control capabilities present an enticing proposition for businesses seeking to optimize their production processes and achieve unprecedented levels of productivity. Embracing LED curing represents a strategic step towards unlocking new frontiers in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and performance excellence.
