It's a Bird, It's a Plane...It's Super UV/EB

A brand new type of lamp emerging for curing UV inks and coatings is light-emitting diodes (LED). The benefits of LEDs include low-energy requirements and low-heat emission.

Despite these advantages, however, package-printing insiders remain divided on the future of the technology, said David Snyder, director of EIT Instrument Markets (Sterling, Va.). "Of much interest is the development of UV LEDs for UV curing. LEDs are increasing in power output and becoming available in different wavelengths, such as 365 nm and 390-395 nm," Snyder said. But, he added, "It is to be seen if LEDs will successfully replace conventional UV curing for some applications, yet to be defined."