UV inkjet digital printing provides variable-data-printing capabilities for package printers.

By Tom Polischuk

Where it stands

UV inkjet printing is in its early stages of use in packaging. As such, its viability is very much dependent on factors such as run lengths, substrates, and quality and performance requirements.

Ringbo believes that UV inkjet can compete very favorably with EP-based technologies in terms of cost. He claims that UV inkjet print speeds can be as much as two times those of EP systems, which results in higher productivity and higher profitability for the same investment. In addition, “UV inkjet requires no pre-coating and is capable of printing on a lot of substrates that are impossible for EP systems, which has a great impact on the cost per print,” he says.