As another round of arctic air grips much of the United States, it seems appropriate to revive our perennial reminder about warming up your UV coating fluid.
Delivery trucks are not heated
If you recently received a shipment of UV coating, or need to reorder soon, it may take a few days to arrive at your shop. Most of that time the packages are sitting in an unheated truck or trailer. While it may be uncommon for UV coating fluid to freeze solid, cold fluid simply does not perform well in UV coating machines.
When temperatures dip below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, the fluid starts to thicken. At a certain point it simply will not pour out of the jug or bucket. Imagine what that would do to the fluid lines in your UV coating machine. You made a huge investment in your equipment. Take care of it by warming up the fluid.
Here are steps you should take before running it through your UV coating machine:
Step 1 – Warm It Up
After receiving a shipment of UV coating, make sure you allow it to warm up to room temperature before use. Most 1 gallon jugs will be fine after warming overnight, but this could take up to 24 hours with 5 gallon buckets.
Step 2 – Shaken or Stirred
Treat it like paint. Before use, either shake or stir your UV coating fluid before it goes into your UV coating machine. Especially after travelling, you want the fluid to be consistent, with no thick portions that did not warm evenly. Mixing properly ensures the fluid flows evenly and cures correctly when applied to your documents.
Step 3 – Store Away from Drafts
When storing UV coating fluid, make sure it is in an area of your shop that stays warm. Otherwise you might have to jump back up to Step 1 every time you need to use your UV coater. There isn’t any danger with storing fluid in cooler areas, but you will need to allow time to warm it up before use.
UV Coating fluid, when applied, provides your documents with protection and shine to bring out the best in your printed material. To ensure the proper performance, care needs to be taken in colder temperatures to ensure every project is perfect. It’s not much more work, it’s just part of the process. Why waste money when you should be maximizing your savings using UV Coating in the first place. If you following the steps given, your machines and your customers will be happy.
