The large-format print industry is growing rapidly and experiencing growth & change with the continuous technological advancement in the field of printing. However, with the introduction of inkjet technology in wide format printing the increase of new applications has been exponential. The advancement of inkjet heads combined with newer types of ink has made it possible to print on a much wider range of media than ever before, creating new business opportunities.
What is UV printing?
UV printing is a form of digital printing that uses ultra-violet lights to dry or cure ink as it is printed. As the printer distributes ink on the surface of a material (called a “substrate”), specially designed UV lights follow close behind, curing – or drying – the ink instantly. This helps the UV printers print on almost any kind of media, which makes them truly versatile which includes varieties of rigid materials include as glass, tiles, wood, ACP, Acrylic, etc., and also flexible media such as wallpapers, canvas, and much more. It can print stunning colors and incredible textures directly onto almost anything.
What is latex printing?
Latex inks are like water-based pigmented inks, which contain small particles of latex, which is a form of plastic. Once applied to paper, heat is used to evaporate away the water, leaving just the pigment and latex particles on the paper surface. Like solvent inks, latex ink is waterproof, waterfast and can be applied to a range of media such as uncoated vinyl and PVC. And unlike solvent inks it doesn’t produce any harmful gases or odors that are harmful to the environment. However the main disadvantages of using latex inks is the heat involved in the process, there is currently a limited range of media on which latex printing can be done. Also, the process involves heat it uses more energy, which of course ultimately has an impact on the overall cost.
The big question – What will be an ideal investment for you?
The continuous need for sign companies, industries, print service providers to diversify their product offerings, deliver quality output at higher productivity, reduction in the over cost and improve their profitability are some of the a key driving factors.
UV Printers offer many benefits in LFP market. UV Curable printing always offers opportunities to reduce the impact of printing on the environment relative to solvent based printing. It is still considered to be fast growing technology in the wide format market.
UV printers are excellent for any application which involves the printing of a variety of substrates. The inks are cured and fixed with UV light. Both flexible roll materials and single sheets, but also rigid media can be printed with ease. Latex printers require preprint and post print heaters to cure the media, resulting in higher energy consumption compared to other inkjet technologies. Some substrates may not be suitable for this kind of printing and may get buckle under higher temperatures.
Advantages of UV Printers over Latex:
- UV printing allows printing on a wide range of materials
- Lower Picolitre drop sizes compared to latex
- Low maintenance cost as compared to latex
- Less consumables required
- Less Operating Cost and less Material Cost
- Less Downtime in production vs a Full day in Latex
- 1-2 or even fewer print heads to be replaced compared to 20 to 30 printheads in Latex over its life.
- Higher Ink Yield, approx 25 to 30 % more
- Ink consumption is cheaper than latex.
- Less Power consumption.
- Lower cost per sq/m then latex
Last words
When it comes to Latex inks, they have a limited choice of materials because the ink must be fixed under heat. However, UV ink dries instantly, which makes it excellent for non-absorbent substrates such as PVC, carton, wood, aluminum, glass, and ceramics, and substrates can be stacked, rolled, and finished immediately after printing. UV inks allows more versatility as it is suitable for printing on rigid and uncoated print media. UV Prints are extremely durable (UV-resistant, water-resistant, scratch-resistant also weather resist), gives true colour output and exceptionally high quality. It can print stunning colors and incredible textures directly onto almost anything. In addition to vibrant colors and extraordinary details, they can also produce stunning photographic details. It is generally possible to print much faster using UV ink than with aqueous or solvent inks.
Maximize your portfolio with Pixeljet® digital UV printers
Expand your reach and add more value to your business. The UV technology used in the Pixeljet® UV printers is capable of printing on almost any media. It can print on glass, wood, PVC, ACP, Ceramic tiles, acrylic, decorative applications, and many more. Pixeljet® UV printers have opened up a whole new dimension of opportunities and revenue options.
