Print UV – A Green(er) Printing Process
By Gail Nickel-Kailing on November 24th, 2008
PRINT UV, Las Vegas, March 8-10, 2009
Users of UV printing technology tell me that when you compare it to conventional printing technology, there are many environmental benefits, including:
- Conventional inks dry by means of exposure to heated air from natural gas-fired ovens. Not only is this costly and inefficient, but oven exhaust also contains harmful emissions. Even afterburners and solvent reclamation systems tend to have high operating costs and generate byproducts requiring disposal.
- Energy-curable UV inks are also solvent-free, contain no HAPs and dry via exposure to high-energy electrical power, a process that generates no byproducts and is emissions (VOC)-free.
- UV inks perform exceptionally well on recycled substrates, yielding “greener” products with higher recyclable value.
A new white paper detailing these and many other environmental advantages of UV printing will be available at Print UV 2009.
For more information or to register, visit www.printUV.com.
10 Responses to “Print UV – A Green(er) Printing Process”
By Pat Berger on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
Please clarify and substantiate the following.
UV inks perform exceptionally well on recycled substrates, yielding “greener” products with higher recyclable value.
What property of UV makes substrates printed with this process more valuable to a recycler?
Does it cost less to deink UV printed substrates?
If you keep UV printed material separate will you be paid more for the recycled materials?
By Pat Berger on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
Web presses running coated stocks without dryers are available.
Goss® M-600™ Folia
Here is the link.
http://www.gossinternational.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=m_600_Folia&category=en_Products
There are 100% solid inks available for sheetfed that require no added energy of any kind to dry.
I do believe that this hype about UV could be misinterpreted as green washing.
By Chris Travis on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
I would interpret to statement below,
UV inks perform exceptionally well on recycled substrates, yielding “greener” products with higher recyclable value.
as follows -
UV inks do perform exceptionally well on recycled substrates, Fact..! Which does result in a Greener higher quality product equaling higher value.
However a higher recyclable value is incorrect and looks to be a mistake. The recyclable value is the same as any other method of printing.
Chris Travis
Director of Technology
KBA North America, Inc.
——————————
T +1 (802) 764-6105
F +1 (802) 764-6167
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http://www.kba-usa.com
By Gail Nickel-Kailing on Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Thanks guys, obviously my fingers and my brain got their wires crossed.
Much appreciate the clarification.
Comments, corrections, and “heads up” are always welcome.
Gail
By Kurt Kroening on Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
Speaking from experience from my days as a UV printer. The best value here from a green perspective would be that the undeniable print quality and production throughput advantages of UV print on recycled stocks will sway printers and their customers to make the jump to the recycled stocks. Shifting their actions based on what they previous experienced conventionally, only being able to yield marginal or poor print quality and poor or troublesome production throughput. That equates to many more pounds of the more environmentally friendly (and more economical) paper products being sold each year.
By Pat Berger on Nov 26, 2008 | Reply
I have printed thousands of jobs on recycled papers using 300lpi screens and higher since 1993 using seed oil based inks.
We have never had a quality or throughput issue. Work and turn or work and tumble 100% recycled board or text matte or gloss in under 15 minutes. Cut and fold 2 hours after printed is possible.
Non UV printing plusses
No extra power as is required for UV .
No additional air conditioning tonnage which is needed for all the heat UV printing generates
Roller life of years instead of months like UV rollers
No special cleaning supplies.
No special rollers or blankets.
No ink misting ( UV is prone to misting). Usually requires an air replacement systems which also requires more air conditioning
Ink shelve life of years(not months like many UV inks).
No UV bulb replacement every 2000 hours
Give us some hard facts.
What or how is the green part of the UV process?
By Kurt Kroening on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
These are fairly common objections and misconceptions about UV. Most of these are easily overcome. In consideration of the numerous differentiation benefits of the UV process, it’s worth a printers effort to understand all the different aspects. That’s a big part of why a Print UV Association and Conference should exist. To gather facts and support from other UV printers through networking and support from key industry suppliers of rollers, chemistries, inks, coatings, substrates, etc to the UV format, in turn printers can learn and decide for themselves the merits of UV. It’s an important decision and homework is required.
By alan siflinger on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
UV inks require a huge power requirement for drying, when we considered converting our 28 press to UV we were looking at ADDING a 400 amp service for the lamps. As far as the value of using recycled paper (most comes from china who’s environmental record speaks volumes) we have had no issues producing quality results on recycled papers using non- UV methods.
I have nothing against UV printing and on some materials it is required and delivers great results. My issue is with the Green Spin. Most printers have always used best available practices and followed AQMD guidelines. Green has turned into a marketing ploy. Some printers boldly proclaim how they recycle paper and plates…well they should because it provides a source of revenue. Do you want to write a check to dispose of your waste or receive a check to recycle you waste
Personally if you need UV it works great but with all things considered i do not see the “green” in it (unless your talking to someone in marketing).
By Kurt Kroening on Dec 3, 2008 | Reply
This is good dialogue! Let’s talk about power consumption, UV vs IR/TA apples for apples. The format: a standard 6 color and coat paper print job on a 40″ press. This job done conventionally would require IR/TA treatment at a power consumption level close to 66 kw. The same job, done with an efficient modern UV system would require a comparable (very near 66kw) amount of power with 3 units of UV curing in the delivery and at one UV unit curing at the last print unit. The net result is a very comparable power consumption level, but of course the UV ink and coating is VOC free and immediately dry and ready for trouble free production throughput. Now, let’s talk apples for oranges. A scenario where UV might seem to require more power than the typical IR/TA 66 kw. The format: a 6 color print job on clear plastic. Two hits of white printed inline, down first with 4 color process atop. UV units curing on each hit of white, the last print unit and all 3 units in the delivery. Of course, this could not be accomplished conventionally without two passes, one for the whites and one for the 4 color process after the white has dried (this is a risk ridden scenario done conventionally, requiring two passes and extensive drying time). Done in two passes this would require IR for each pass, doubling the power consumption. This job done UV would consume less power, be VOC free, have half the production time and press power consumption due to one pass printing, no dry time and risk of spoilage for set off and poor drying issues are eliminated.
By Pat Berger on Dec 4, 2008 | Reply
IR is not required for most jobs except to accelerate drying. If a job is able to dry in 30 minutes without added power requirements why bother.
There will always be exceptions and printing on plastics where multiple hits and special colors and coatings on a very expensive substrate is a prime candidate for UV.
If drying times need to be improved a very simple and economical method is redirecting any waste heat from pumps and chillers. This can be very effective in accelerating drying with very little power requirements.
As for powder, when used correctly, is extremely effective in keeping static down in subsequent processing.