on and off instantly, however the LED UV inks are more expensive, adding that these costs need to be understood with energy costs rising, and also as environmental credentials are becoming more important to all organisations. Looking to how Benford UV can help, Broughton says the company moved into the narrow web and label market four years ago, and its LED UV systems have been proving popular in the UK ever since. “Also, as LED UV technology has become more established, we find that our sheet-fed customers are requesting LED UV for inter deck but are going back to conventional UV for delivery lamps and curing coating,” Broughton says, adding: 66 which kinds of materials they wish to print to establish the type of drying they need. Casting an eye over the latest developments at Komori, Bretherton says that H-UV remains enormously popular and orders for new presses fitted with this and H-UV L are always in process. However, he is keen to highlight a new innovation to benefit commercial printers that want to do more with less. “We have a number of successful installations of our G38 web presses, which are fitted with either H-UV or H-UV L (LED) drying instead of the costly-to-run gas drying systems typically fitted to web presses,” Bretherton says, adding: “This has been a game changer for those that have made the switch. “With speeds of up to 30,000 folded 16pp sections being produced every hour, this technology can allow a printer to replace several long perfectors fitted with reel sheeters with a single output device, saving space, and removing work in progress in the finishing department.” Reliability and flexibility Elsewhere, Benford UV supplies drying systems to a range of customers, both for new presses or retrofits to older presses. Marketing manager Don Broughton, says a good curing system needs a customised design to provide maximum reliability and flexibility, all while keeping it as simple as possible. “Simplicity of design and the compactness of the lamp technology means it is easy to install, operate, and maintain over an extended period,” Broughton explains, adding: “The system is however, much more than just a drying lamp. There are also cooling, electrical, and control email: news@printmonthly.co.uk Issue 341 - March / April 2023 systems which also need to be easy to integrate, operate, and maintain. “The system needs to be safe and reliable, meaning reduced outages and less lost production time for the printer. There are a number of drying technologies available, such as UV, LED UV, ECO UV and IR. Printers need the right technology in the right place on the press. Purchasing from a vendor who has been in the field for a long time, you can be confident that they can advise you correctly for your requirements.” With this, Broughton issues a warning against underinvesting in drying technology, saying that this could have a significant impact on production, which could in turn then mean additional costs and lost revenue opportunities. “Not having the right curing technology available may mean the printer will produce lower quality products for their customers, or mean they cannot address some customer requirements,” Broughton explains. As such, he advises that PSPs should aim to complete the entire print process with one pass and move to postproduction almost immediately after a job comes off the press. Quality and making the right investment may mean an initial higher up-front cost, but over time, he says the total cost of ownership can be lower. He advises that LED UV uses up to 70% less energy, produces less heat, and turns ▲ Komori offers HUV-L that employs LED UV, which reduces power consumption by using on/off technology ▼ Some of Komori’s G38 web presses have been fitted with either H-UV or H-UV L (LED) drying instead of gas drying systems Komori was the pioneer of H-UV printing 2009 NEED TO KNOW / DRYING TECHNOLOGY Printers and converters interested in purchasing a UV drying solution have the option to select either LED-based drying systems or traditional mercuryvapor UV lamps
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