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UV Print Finishing On The Rise
Boasting a double-digit growth in the last 10 years, UV coating technologies have reached rock star-like popularity with both customers and print professionals.
And, as is the case with rock stars, they have their raving fans, cautious observers, and critics.
Enter cold, hard data: Nothing like black-and-white stats to pull back the curtain and give us a snapshot of the reality behind the buzz.
First, some background: The survey compiled input from 137 respondents, 42 percent of which were owners, managers, engineers, and chemists in the industrial finishing realm. Remaining respondents were shop floor workers and other job shop personnel.
The majority of respondents (62 percent) affirmed they would “definitely” or “probably” consider investing in UV technology within the next five years, with 40 percent identifying production speed as the single greatest benefit. Performance and cost/energy savings came next, with 23 and 18 percent of responses, respectively.
Curiously, just seven percent of participants indicated they would not invest in UV in the next five years, identifying a lack of knowledge about the technology or implementation expenses as their rationale.
What does that mean for you?
Consumers demanding high-gloss, low-cost print finishing — even green printing — can now turn to a growing number of your competitors who have embraced UV coating technologies.
And because these early UV adopters are equipped to deliver slick, green printing faster and at lower costs, it’s harder to justify the slower turnaround, lower quality and higher costs associated with other alternatives.
Where do you fit in the picture? Consider that, by resisting the UV coating wave, you may be missing out on opportunities to boost your ROI and your customers’.
Five Benefits of UV Coating for Printed Documents
With fierce competition and prospects who seem to flop between overwhelm and distraction, outshining (not outspending) the competition becomes mandatory if you’re going to thrive in the marketplace. The same goes for your customers, who are feeling the same pressure to wow prospects without breaking the bank.
How do you do that in print? Industry experts point us to UV coating, citing the following five benefits of UV coating for print finishers.
1. UV Coating Has a Slick, High-End Look for Less
These days, both print clients and their prospects expect (demand, even) a high-gloss finish to their print materials and packaging.
As it turns out, slick print finishing is no longer a luxury exclusive to those with deep pockets: Even the little guy running a business out of his basement wants to impress his prospects with shiny, vibrant materials.
And, trust me, they’ll find a printer that can offer high-luster without the high price tag. (Is that you?)
2. UV Coating is High Value & High Profit
More than just a pretty finish, UV coating is also practical and easy on the wallet. That’s because its no-dry time allows for lightning-fast turnaround and decreased manpower.
In the age of “I need this yesterday,” it’s an ideal solution for last-minute orders and challenging deadlines. How’s that for a competitive advantage?
3. UV Coatings are Environmentally Friendly
Can a sweet deal to your pocketbook be as sweet to the environment? It turns out UV coating and green printing go together like bees and honey.
After researching new UV technologies and EPA guidelines, Steve Waxman, a print consultant writing for the Printing Industry Exchange, reported the following findings:
- Newer UV materials are safe to workers and not carcinogenic.
- UV coatings can be recycled as “mixed waste.”
- Unlike solvent-based coatings, UV coatings are less flammable and do not release volatile compounds into the atmosphere.
- Its fast, no-heat drying ability requires less energy.
4. It’s Scratch Resistant
Who wants to invest in fancy-schmancy finishing that gets beaten to a pulp by the time it reaches its intended recipients? Not the folks paying you money, I can tell you that much.
While there are other scratch resistance methods for print products, UV coating may offer the best versatility and ROI. What does that mean for you? Satisfied customers coming back for more.
5. It’s More Than Just Paper
Even with knock’em-dead finishing, your customer’s needs don’t end with paper products. Rather, they want the same top-notch, low-cost solutions for banners, point-of-purchase displays, chotchkies, and beyond.
Lucky for you, the versatility of UV coating allows you to branch out into plastics and vinyl. Let me put it this way: More product options = More profits.
Combining high luster, high value and green printing, UV coating is one sure way for you and your clients to outshine the competition. Literally.
Busting UV Coating & Print Finishing Myths
Scads of business leaders make strategic decisions on myths rather than facts, wasting both profit and productivity opportunities.
Take print finishing technologies, for instance: With UV coating’s popularity on the rise (double-digit growth in the last 10 years, in fact), misinformation abounds. Throw green printing concerns in the mix (plus the health of your pocketbook), and it’s no wonder many of you are confused.
In a recent article for Products Finishing Magazine, Gary Cohen separates fact from fiction, debunking five UV coating myths.
While Gary makes strong points on all five counts, we’ll focus on the two we hear most often:
Myth One: UV Materials are Dangerous
The reality? UV coatings are actually much less toxic than solvent-based and even some water-based coatings. What’s more, it boasts low toxicity, emits little or no volatile compounds into the atmosphere, is not regulated as hazardous waste and does not cause cancer, as previously thought.
In addition to not being absorbed through the skin, UV materials have very low vapor pressures, which means you’re unlikely to inhale the stuff. In other reports, we read UV coatings can even be recycled as a “mixed waste.”
Bottom line? UV coating is safe.
Myth Two: UV Equipment is Too Expensive
It’s the typical technology scenario: A new equipment comes out on the market, and, over time, prices drop as it becomes more common-place. Likewise, UV equipment costs have dropped significantly in the last few years.
Pricing aside, it’s interesting to note that UV’s fast, no-heat drying capabilities require less space and less energy, which invariably translates into increased uptime, productivity, and profits (plus lower inventories, to boot).
Lloyds of Indiana offers entry-level UV equipment for less than $15,000 — a very fair investment for the costs savings and versatility it provides.
As we dig into industry reports like Gary’s, we find UV coating consistently comes out on top as the most economical and environmentally-safe print finishing solution.
Why Should You Add UV Coating to Your Print Finish Operations?
In his blog post, “Considerations for Applying UV Coatings,” John Owed lists five great reasons why any print finisher should consider a UV coating machine.
We were most interested, however, in the environmental benefits. Specifically, Owed says that when formulated as one hundred percent solids, no solvents are present in UV coating material.
Since solvents are major pollutants, this means that regular inks are more harmful to the environment. Conversely, UV coatings hurt the environment a lot less than other coating types that contain these chemicals, such as laminates and varnishes. Indeed, UV coatings decrease pollution in several other areas as well. These include allowing a green printer to reduce the number of VOCs, HAPs, and NVPs they produce.
Given that print finishers and their customers are both under pressure to be more environmentally friendly these days, the value of being able to offer a green printing option is huge.
As more and more customers are looking for green printers, having a UV printing capability can set you apart from the non-green competition. And benefits to the environment are just the tip of the iceberg as far as reasons to offer UV coatings are concerned.
In addition to containing fewer pollutants, Mike Kelly says that UV coatings are more environmentally friendly than other coatings because they require less energy to cure. Less energy used usually translates to less fossil fuels burned, hence an already green print finishing process becomes even greener.
It also translates to lower energy bills and lower operating costs for your firm. Armed with a UV coating machine, your print finishing will benefit the environment and save you money at the same time.
Put differently, in the case of UV coating machines, green is the color of money.
Tec Lighting XtraCoat 18″ Auto Feed UV Coating System (with 17.5″ x 20″ Vacuum Feeder)
With the ability to apply Hi-Gloss, Satin or Matte coating almost on any printed sheet with ease, the Tec Lighting XtraCoat 18″ Offline Auto Feed UV Coating system was designed with your needs as a priority. This UV Coater has the ideal combination of performance and affordability that will allow you to increase your capability and profit, all in one package.
How is it Used?
The Tec Lighting XtraCoat 18″ features a three roll coating system capable of UV and aqueous coating and runs smoothly with a 1/2 HP DC drive motor, with variable speeds that reach up to 100 feet per minute. It will practically run itself with the automated deep pile feeder with double sheet detector. Plus, your sheets will come out clean and waste no materials with the AGFA (SS) doctor blade continuously cleaning the impression roll while the stainless steel drip pan and pump recirculate your coating.
Lamp change is a breeze with a quick lamp change housing assembly for the built-in 3 lamp curing system. And, you’ll be pleased with the safety features on this auto feed model. The 18″ Tec Lighting XtraCoat Auto Feed is built on a sturdy welded steel frame on caster wheels, has an exterior e-stop for operator safety, fully guarded roller mechanism with safety inter-lock, and plexy glass splash and hand guards.
And How Much Does it Cost?
The Tec Lighting XtraCoat 18″ Offline Auto Feed UV Coating System costs $23,900 at Lloyd’s and comes with a 1-year warranty on all parts and labor except UV arc lamp, which carries a separate 1,000 hour warranty & 500 hour warranty on manufacturer’s defects for roller assembly only.