Pulling Off a UV Add-On

If a budget is particularly limited, start with two UV stations and quick-change, mobile irradiators—a set-up that can be used for opaque white ink laydown or handling fine print, and which can gradually introduce the rheology of UV inks, Hahn asserts.

To skirt unnecessary equipment costs, make sure the system purchased is strictly customized to meet established objectives—and nothing more. "Be wary of preplanned UV curing packages that typically offer too much power," cautions Flynn. "Many applications do not need this expensive, unnecessary overkill."