New Study Shows Mega Sustainability Advantages of UV/EB Technology
BETHESDA, MD—January 16, 2013—A new study by FocalPoint Consulting finds that ultraviolet- and electron-beam (UV/EB) technologies have the potential to reduce energy demand and greenhouse gas releases by up to 90 percent, an added benefit to well documented significant reductions in volatile organic compound (VOC) and hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions.
UV/EB is widely recognized as a pollution prevention technology with wide application across manufacturing industries, including printing and packaging; electronics; metal, plastic, and wood parts and products; and composites. The FocalPoint study outlines a quantitative method for estimating and comparing the energy demand and emissions of thermal and UV/EB curing in equivalent printing and coating processes.
"We are excited to see yet another report showing UV/EB reduces energy demand and greenhouse gases—these are issues that help make a low-energy process into a high-energy business," says Don Duncan of Wikoff Color and president of RadTech.
According to Ronald Golden, Ph.D., founder and principal of FocalPoint, "Based on RadTech data for 2011 North American shipments of UV and EB curing formulations, the annual benefits from the use of UV/EB instead of thermal curing are estimated as a savings of 60 Billion Cubic Feet of Natural Gas; 620 Thousand MWh of Electrical Energy; 3.75 Million Metric Tons of CO2 Emissions; and 220 Thousand Gallons of Diesel Fuel Consumption."
The FocalPoint study compares the use of UV/EB technology with traditional manufacturing processes, showing how "UV/EB curing can help manufacturers achieve major quantitative reductions in energy consumption and harmful emissions."
Golden will present FocalPoint findings at uv.eb WEST 2013, February 26-27, 2013 in Redondo Beach, CA.
Please click here to find an article detailing these results.
