According to Focus Label Machinery, the use of UV LED inks is one of the fastest growing areas of the print industry for a variety of general applications, including posters, catalogues, and flyers. UV LED printing inks for food packaging is still relatively new but growing in popularity.
So what are the benefits of switching to this from printing inks for flexographic and digital machinery?
1) Fully compliant with food safety
In all aspects of food manufacture and production, it is vital that consumer safety is guaranteed. Standard UV inks do need meet migration & safety requirements for direct packaging. Low migration LED-UV inks are designed to minimise the passage of ink compounds into foods and are, therefore, suited to usage in many prime food packaging applications.
2) Unrivalled versatility
The high degree of curing is a key element in the use of LED-UV inks, particularly to produce a range of food-safe packaging that doesn’t require the use of a separate label. LED-UV ink prices are more competitive, as print can be applied directly to packaging materials, such as food tubs, cylindrical or conical cups, and PET bottles.
3) An effective way to cut costs
Overall, LED-UV inks have a short set-up time and low rate of waste: when used with flexographic or digital printing technology, they enable a very precise print run length to be defined, thereby reducing waste, and giving a more predictable idea of cost. LED-UV equipped printing presses are cheaper to operate and maintain, with lower energy costs, fewer moving parts that require regular service and a longer lamp lifespan. The return on investment (ROI), therefore, is higher and quicker than with other forms of printing.
4) Reliability
Flexo & Inkjet printing applications are often chosen for their reputation for reliability and speed. The use of LED-UV inks in food packaging printing reinforces this notion, as it delivers the most reliable low and high volume printing process, even when operated at high speed. In print applications where speed is of the essence, LED-UV inks are particularly suited to flexographic machines, which deliver premium quality output for food labels that radiate luxury and quality.
5) An environmentally friendly solution
The UV-LED drying process is much more environmentally friendly than alternative drying methods, with lower power demand during curing, no ozone emissions, and 20 per cent lower ink consumption. Not only will energy bills be lower, but your business’s carbon footprint will also be reduced, so you can authentically market your brand as eco-friendly.
FOCUS LABEL MACHINERY
jamesb@focuslabel.com
https://www.focuslabel.com
