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Web printing

Highest printing quality for rotary applications

UV curing (UV drying) uses ultraviolet light to cure printing inks and coatings on large-area substrates such as flexible packaging, labels and textiles in a matter of seconds. Compared to conventional drying processes, UV light significantly reduces the drying time and thus enables a considerable increase in production speed. Even at high printing speeds, the print results always remain brilliant and of high quality.

The immediate curing of the ink or varnish using UV light enables immediate further processing, which ensures maximum efficiency in the production process. UV systems not only ensure excellent colour quality and durability, but also minimise drying time.

LED UV curing in particular has established itself as an environmentally friendly and powerful alternative to conventional mercury vapour lamps. LED UV systems offer higher energy efficiency, generate less heat and have a longer service life, which reduces maintenance costs. In addition, LED UV systems contain no mercury and produce no ozone emissions, which is good for the environment. As a result, roller printing with LED UV curing is increasingly being chosen for its efficiency and sustainability.

With UV and LED UV systems that have been specially developed for roll applications, you can increase the efficiency and quality of your production process - and rely on technology that meets the highest standards of sustainability and performance.

Our product portfolio for web applications

  • BLK - Water-cooled UV system for industry
  • FREEcure - UV curing without Photo initiators for packaging printing
  • EXIcure - Excimer technology for industrial applications
  • modulux Turbo - LED UV system for a wide range of applications
  • UV Analyzer - app-based UV radiation measuring device

FREEcure technology

For safer, more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient production processes

The UV curing process is a cornerstone in various industries, notably in printing, coatings, and surface treatments. However, traditional photoinitiators are reaching their limits, especially in the food packaging sector, as their odour and migration potential limits their use. 

This is where the innovative FREEcure technology sets new standards. It has already been successfully implemented in the industry, for example in the printing sector, where initiator-free or reduced offset and flexo inks have been polymerised at impressive speeds of up to 200 metres per minute. 

By using the highest intensities at 212 nm, acrylate double bonds are activated directly, resulting in extremely efficient curing. As no photoinitiators are required, the system significantly reduces odour and migration risks, making it ideal for sensitive applications.

In addition, FREEcure technology fulfils the strictest environmental regulations while setting new standards in terms of energy and cost efficiency. Discover the benefits of FREEcure technology - for safer, more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient production processes.

FREEcure - Difference spectrum - IST METZ
Difference spectrum FREEcure 240 W/cm to standard BLK 200 W/cm

Commercial Printing

Application Web: Commercial printing with BLK curing

Commercial printing refers to the process of printing promotional materials such as brochures, flyers and catalogues for business purposes. UV curing is ideal for commercial printing as it enables fast curing of the ink, resulting in improved print quality and reduced production times. UV curing technology is particularly well suited to multi-colour wet-on-wet printing as it enables precise and fast curing without smudging or smearing. UV curing also offers flexibility in the choice of curing source, be it a classic UV lamp, a LED UV or a hybrid solution, each offering their own advantages in terms of efficiency and energy consumption.

  • UV curing suitable for multi-colour wet-on-wet printing
  • Classic UV lamp or LED UV or hybrid solution possible

Newspaper printing

UV curing in newspaper printing - IST METZ

Newspaper printing is a specialised printing process used for the mass production of newspapers, with a focus on fast printing speeds and cost-efficient production. In combination with UV printing, coated papers can be used in coldset presses, allowing newspaper printers to produce commercial products.

  • UV curing suitable for high speed with both classic UV lamp and LED UV
  • Number of lamp units / LED units depending on production speed
  • Installation possible on single and double-width web offset printing towers
  • Installation on 8-high towers and satellite printing units
  • Curing of the front and back of the web
  • Wet-on-wet printing without intermediate drying - curing after last print position
  • Production speeds up to approx. 840 m/min depending on the printing press

Article “New opportunities for coldset” in Deutscher Drucker

TO THE ARTICLE

Heatset

Application Web: Heatset with UV curing

Heatset printing is a process in which the ink is dried using heat to enable faster drying times and better adhesion to smooth surfaces such as glossy paper. In the heatset printing industry, UV curing is particularly useful as a substitute for conventional gas curing, as it reduces emissions and improves print quality.

  • UV curing suitable for high speed, both with classic UV lamp and with LED UV as an alternative to the heatset dryer
  • Number of lamp/LED units depending on the production speed
  • Top and bottom of the web are cured almost simultaneously
  • Wet-on-wet printing without intermediate drying - curing after the last print job
  • Production speeds depending on the printing machine up to approx. 1000 m/min

Liquid packaging

Application Web: Liquid packaging with UV curing

Liquid packaging refers to packaging specifically designed for the storage and transport of liquids such as beverages, sauces or detergents. UV curing is an ideal technology for liquid packaging as it enables immediate curing of the ink and thus reduces production time, which is crucial for fast roll-to-roll processing of large quantities of packaging.

  • UV curing with classic UV lamp for maximum product safety, even at high speeds, thanks to separate curing of each individual ink
  • Flexo and offset printing possible
  • Installation via chill roller or with counter aperture
  • Production speeds of up to approx. 450 m/min depending on the printing press

Further installation situations

Flexible packaging

Application Web: Flexo packaging with UV curing

Flexible packaging is packaging material made of easily deformable materials such as plastic films, aluminium foils or paper and is often used for food, beverages and other consumer goods. UV curing is ideal for flexible packaging as it enables instant drying of the ink on various materials such as plastic films, resulting in increased productivity and improved quality.

  • UV curing with a classic UV lamp for maximum product safety, even at high speeds
  • Curing under atmospheric or oxygen-reduced (inertisation using nitrogen) conditions
  • Installation via cooling roller for heat-sensitive substrates

Gravure printing

UV curing systems for industrial applications and converting

Gravure printing is a printing process in which the ink is transferred from the recessed areas of a printing plate to the paper, resulting in high print quality and colour intensity. UV printing or UV varnishing is an ideal addition for creating tactile and visual effects.

  • UV curing system with classic UV lamp specially developed for varnish finishing in gravure printing
  • Atmospheric and oxygen-reduced LCC curing system (nitrogen inert) for maximum product safety in terms of migration, odours, etc.
  • UV curing with classic UV lamp for maximum product safety, even at high speeds
  • Installation of the lamp units on a counter panel (folding carton) or over a chill roll (flexible packaging)

Decorative printing

UV curing systems for industrial applications and converting

Decorative printing refers to the process of printing decorative surfaces on film or paper to achieve aesthetic effects. Due to the achievable colour gamut and the chemical and physical resistance of UV formulations, UV printing is an ideal process for this.

  • UV curing system for pre-gelling - matting and final curing of coatings on decorative film
  • Pre-curing using LED UV or UV lamp (UV lamp with servo shutter for controlling the UV dose to almost 0 mJ/cm²)
  • Matting using excimer technology
  • Final curing of the matt film under oxygen-reduced conditions with UV lamp
  • Extra-wide excimer applications up to 4 m can be realised

Specials

Application Web: Special printing with UV curing from IST METZ

"Specials" is a term used in the printing industry to refer to special or customised print jobs that fall outside of standard products and processes.

  • Adhesive cross-linking (hotmelt)

Security printing

UV curing in security printing - IST METZ

Security printing is based on the key factors of a complex process, special material mix of paper, colours and foils as well as design. This requires a wide range of different UV printing and finishing technologies. The security features and a large part of the expertise required to print the banknotes are subject to confidentiality.

  • Application-specific applications can be realised
  • Broad range of applications and products
  • Customised system solution

Contact us for customised UV technology solutions for your web application.

My many years of expertise as a design engineer and deep understanding of complex UV applications leads to my passion for maximising the efficiency of each application through the right combination of suitable technologies and engineering.
Jürgen Merz
Jürgen Merz
Senior Sales Manager Web, IST METZ