Toward a Painless Cure

Due to the variety of ink colors printed and the different spectrum of densities required when printing film applications, compatiblity of ink system and UV curing system on press is very important. "To get the perfect cure on shrink sleeves, the number one priority needs to be ensuring the ink, bulb, lamp, and power supply all match," says Mark Hahn, director of sales and marketing at AAA Press. He explains it is vital to keep the web cool during the cure process, which is best done with cool UV packages using dichroic filters and variable exhaust systems. "Another alternative to the standard three-step UV controller is a multi-step power supply with at least 20 steps between 150 wpi and 600 wpi for tighter control of curing power and better heat management."