Led by growth in UV LED, interest in energy-curable inks is on the rise, driven by energy cost savings and sustainability benefits. David Savastano, Editor03.08.23 Energy curing has been one of the steadiest growth markets in the ink industry. There are plenty of reasons why the market has been successful; years ago, people cited the instant cure, which allows for faster processing, but the sustainability benefits and energy cost savings of UV and EB inks are of great interest today.   Ultraviolet (UV) and UV LED remain the largest portion of the market, with electron beam (EB) a smaller share. Anecdotally, UV LED is the fastest growing sub-section of the market. Overall, energy curable inks are a sizable business, with consultants placing overall sales at between $2 billion and $3 billion annually.   In terms of companies, UV/EB inks are produced by a wide range of manufacturers. All of the major international ink industry leaders are in the UV ink segment, and there are a few companies – T&K Toka and Zeller+Gmelin – that are primarily focused on energy curable inks and coatings.   In speaking with industry leaders, the UV ink business was solid again in 2022, with more good news on the way. Niklas Olsson, global director product & commercial excellence, Narrow Web at Flint Group, noted that market intelligence suggests the market for energy curing technology is stable with some minor growth, while Hideyuki Hinataya, GM of the Overseas Ink Sales Division at T&K Toka, reported that power-saving UV printing is growing continuously in 2022, partly due to a switch from conventional printing.   Ed Dedman, flexo technical support/product manager for Zeller+Gmelin Corp., said that overall, the energy curing inks market remained strong in 2022.   “Sales were somewhat impacted by raw material availability, but we were able to push through and maintain a strong sales and supply position,” Dedman reported.   Alexander Blasek, global project manager UV flexo at hubergroup, noted that in 2022, the global UV flexo market remained stable with a slight positive trend.   “Also at the beginning of 2023, we see that this positive trend continues,” added Blasek. “We expect the market for UV flexo applications to further grow within the next few years.”   “UV sheetfed offset printing also continued to grow in the packaging market while the market for UV commercial printing is already saturated in Europe,” noted Roland Schröder, product manager UV Europe at hubergroup.   “It was a challenging year for the printing industry, and the ink industry in general,” said Jonathan Graunke, VP - UV/EB technology and assistant R&D director for INX International Ink Co. “Energy curable technologies were not immune to the supply chain challenges, which made for difficult decisions in the procurement of materials and came at considerable cost. Printers were faced with substrate shortages, and of course labor challenges impacted all. I am really proud of how the INX team embraced the challenges and were able to keep open the supply chain for energy curable ink. This led to a steady year in 2022, and I believe it has opened new opportunities for growth moving forward. I am also personally deeply appreciative of how some of our suppliers were able to support us and the industry.”   Jim Bishop, product manager UV, EB & conventional offset products at Sun Chemical, said that this past year saw the market for energy curable inks and coatings continue to grow.   “Depending on the end use segment, we feel this growth is ranging between 2% and 3%,” Bishop continued. “Many new large format, high-speed UV sheetfed presses were installed in the North America market, and this trend is expected to continue as these new presses bring strong productivity gains. The use of LED for flexo, narrow web, and commercial applications remains very strong too.”   Fabian Köhn, global head of narrow web product management at Siegwerk, reported that the two principal and predominant topics for energy curing inks in 2022 were the high costs and the availability of raw materials.   “This put a big burden and pressure on both ink suppliers and printers,” Köhn said. “Generally, the industry managed this challenge quite well showing an overall stable business in most regions throughout the year. Only China had a particular hard time with several large lockdowns due to the country’s zero COVID policy in 2022 leading to a decline in business in comparison to 2021.” The UV LED Market   Without a doubt, the fastest growing portion of the energy curable ink business is UV LED. Aside from concerns over the regulatory future of mercury lights, which power conventional UV curing, UV LED offers significant additional benefits for users.   “The general consensus is LED is growing more rapidly,” Graunke said. “Press manufacturers have embraced LED UV curing, and virtually all new narrow web flexo and sheetfed presses have the option to have LED installed. The efficiencies of LED UV and the absence of ozone from a UV lamp make installations less complex with the elimination of certain air flow ducting.”   Graunke added that retrofitting is also a much simpler process.   “UV lamp manufacturers have developed solutions that allow for the conversion of existing UV systems to LED with existing footprints, making it very cost effective,” Graunke noted. “It also allows the user to capture energy savings and eliminate mercury UV bulbs from their process.”   “More and more customers are either ordering new presses or retrofitting existing water-based and UV presses with LED curing systems, primarily because of energy cost savings,” Dedman said. “LED adoption seems to be steadily gaining traction across the print industry, and we fully expect that growth to increase moving forward.”   Hinataya said that UV LED printing has seen more growth. “The reasons for this are speculated to be the rising cost of electricity and the switch from mercury lamps to LED lamps,” added Hinataya.   Blasek reported that hubergroup sees a global trend towards UV LED applications in flexo printing.   “The main drivers are energy cost savings and sustainability,” Blasek said. “We at hubergroup support this and want to collaborate with customers based on long-term concepts. However, LED technology is in sum still more expensive than the traditional UV technology. Consequently, UV drying with mercury vapor lamps is still most common. Within the next years, we expect a further trend towards the LED technology.”   Schröder pointed out that mercury technology is still leading the way in UV sheetfed offset printing. “There have been major leaps in the UV LED technology in recent years but there are still some technical limitations due to the small number of available photoinitiators and the currently still narrow LED absorption spectrum,” Schröder added.   Derrick Hemmings, product manager, EC flexo, screen and LED NA & ECP Canada for Sun Chemical, reported that the LED segment is estimated to be around 15% of the total energy curable graphic arts market.   “We feel that both LED and UV/EB continue to grow at the same rate,” Hemmings said. “RadTech suggests an LED increase from 12% in 2019 to over 20% in 2022. This increase continues to primarily be in digital, commercial offset, screen, and narrow web. Sustainability surrounding energy savings is a key driver of this increase, however, it also can be attributed to increased productivity and throughput.”   Hemmings added that digital, commercial offset, screen, and NWTL (narrow web, tag and label) customers continue to lead the way in UV LED conversion and equipment sales.   “Of primary interest to Sun Chemical are LED for sensitive packaging applications, the need for more compliant, low migration solutions, and heat sensitive substrates for further lightweighting of packaging,” Hemmings said. “These needs, along with the significant energy savings (upwards of 50%) being rationalized by converters, continues to help drive UV LED conversion in graphic arts. It’s worth keeping an eye on LED for commercial print applications, as it presents an excellent value proposition and is gaining traction in the industry. Conversions of conventional sheetfed presses to LED provide an excellent path to higher productivity.” Olsson said that Flint Group has seen a significant uptake in UV LED products since Q3 2022.   “Contributing to this increase is the focus by printers, converters, and brand owners on reducing their greenhouse gas emissions,” Olsson said. “Currently, Asia and the United States have a larger share of LED lamps. In Europe, there is a large number of pending installations of UV LED lamps. We estimate that lamp installations in Europe will double over the next 12 months, where high energy costs and potential electricity shortages are driving this change.”   Köhn said that as in previous years, UV LED is growing faster than traditional UV, in particular in Europe, where high energy costs act as a catalyst for the LED technology.   “Also in markets like India, Southeast Asia and Latin America, we see an ongoing strong momentum towards UV LED,” Köhn said. “UV LED systems continue to become more and more cost-competitive and more and more new products are launched on the market that complete the offering.”

Back in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol stipulated that, by 2020, industrial processes should be at least 20% more efficient than they were in 1990. Today, due to the general trend for more sustainability across the whole of society, ambitious climate protection targets, and the present energy crisis, there is growing pressure on the print media industry to make the entire production process even more energy-efficient – and to do so quickly.Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG has therefore launched a campaign for print shops featuring information, advice, and tips from experts on how to considerably increase energy efficiency in printing companies while simultaneously driving down costs. The company will be focusing on several headline issues in its communications over the next few months.“The subject of sustainability and energy efficiency has become a crucial competitive and cost factor for suppliers in the print media industry – and that applies equally to our customers and to Heidelberg itself,” says Ludwin Monz, CEO of Heidelberg. “Alongside its customers, Heidelberg aims to extend its leading role in the industry to include energy efficiency as well. Due to our technological and data expertise, we are able to offer our customers attractive options for achieving energy-efficient production and can provide comprehensive advice and consulting. We all need to work on these issues if we are to hit climate protection targets.” Speedmaster XL 106 – Energy Efficiency as Standard To launch the campaign, Heidelberg is showcasing the energy efficiency of the Speedmaster XL 106. For example, a comparison between the Speedmaster CD 102-6+L from 1990 and the current Speedmaster XL 106-6+L reveals that energy consumption per 1,000 sheets has been reduced from 13.8 kWh to 8 kWh – a reduction of 40 percent. A whole range of innovations and improvements throughoutthe entire system is responsible for this achievement.Besides investing in cutting-edge equipment, print shops can also further boost their energy efficiency by optimizing the way they use their equipment. This is where one principle in particular comes into play – one that highlights a key difference between printing presses and automobiles, for instance, which consume more energy the faster they travel.By contrast, a printing press has a basic level of energy consumption that covers the fundamental operating functions. Beyond this, energy consumption increases in line with rising printing speed, but since the basic level of energy consumption is spread over more printed sheets, overall energy efficiency improves. This means a press is at its most efficient when a job is being printed at full speed – ideally on a fully automated basis – and when, after that job, the system either moves on immediately to the next job or switches to standby mode if there is nothing else to be printed.“When it comes to energy efficiency in print shops, although the equipment being used is an important basis, operating that equipment in the best way possible is at least equally as important. This is often where companies can really make a big difference. It is at precisely this point that the Heidelberg campaign for greater energy efficiency comes in and creates a basis for fully utilizing pre-existing potential,” said Eva Boll, head of ESG at Heidelberg.Starting April 2023, the Speedmaster XL 106 will be supplied with an energy measuring device as standard, albeit only in Germany initially. This will enable users to permanently monitor the energy consumption of their press – measured in kilowatt-hours per 1,000 sheets – from the control station. This read-out encourages operators to run the press in an energy-efficient way – in other words, at maximum speed. All in all, various energy-efficiency measures also help print shops reduce the CO2 emissions associated with their industrial processes.The second theme of the campaign highlights the potential in terms of savings offered by peripheral units for the Speedmaster, which makes energy-efficient production possible. Next, the campaign addresses the issue of “maintenance,” revealing the extent to which regularly maintained machine systems can conserve resources and improve the energy balance. To complement the campaign, Heidelberg offers relevant consulting services so it can work with customers to identify potential for energy savings in the print shop and draw up plans for leveraging that potential.

LED UV ink is a high-quality, environmentally friendly ink used for printing on a variety of materials. The ink is ideal for use in printing applications where energy efficiency, sustainability, and environmental responsibility are critical. This ink delivers excellent image quality, fast curing speeds, and improved adhesion to a wide range of substrates, making it perfect for printing on plastics, glass, metal, wood, and many other materials.   Benefits of LED UV Ink   1. Energy Efficiency: One of the most significant benefits of LED UV ink is its energy efficiency. Unlike traditional UV inks that require high-intensity UV lamps, LED UV ink uses low-temperature LED lamps that consume less energy. This makes it an excellent choice for printers who wish to reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.   2. Environmental Friendliness: LED UV ink does not contain the harmful chemicals found in traditional UV inks, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are toxic to the environment and human health. The LED UV ink is also free from heavy metals and other hazardous substances, making it safe for use in a wide range of printing applications.   3. Improved Productivity: LED UV ink cures instantly, reducing the drying time needed between printing runs. This results in improved productivity and a faster turnaround time for print jobs.   4. Excellent Image Quality: LED UV ink produces high-quality images with vibrant and accurate color saturation. It also provides excellent ink adhesion to a wide range of substrates, ensuring a perfect finish for your printed products.   Conclusion   LED UV ink is an excellent printing ink for businesses that prioritizes sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. It offers a wide range of benefits, including energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, improved productivity, and excellent image quality. With LED UV ink, printers can achieve high-quality, vibrant images while reducing their energy bills and carbon footprint.

In the process of printing high school entrance exams and answer sheets, ink printing plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality of the printed content. With its high definition, bright colors, and quick drying properties, ink printing technology makes it possible for exam papers and answer sheets to be printed clearly and efficiently.   Students taking the exam need to stay focused, calm, and perform to the best of their ability. A clear, legible and properly printed exam paper can help students feel confident and prepared by providing them with a clean, organized and easy-to-read format to work with.   As an ink industry professional, I wish all students the best of luck on their exams and hope that they can demonstrate their true abilities on the test. I am proud to be a part of the ink printing industry that contributes to the success of so many young students during such an important time in their lives. May our industry continue to prosper and develop better printing solutions to serve more students and help them achieve their dreams.   In summary, the application of ink printing in high school entrance exams and answer sheets is indispensable. As students prepare for their exams, they can take comfort in the fact that the ink technology behind the printed content is reliable and high-quality. With a clear head and a steady hand, exam takers can achieve great results and grab the opportunity to further their studies and personal growth.

Offset printing ink is one of the most important consumables in the printing industry. It is a special type of ink designed for use in offset printing machines. Offset printing ink has a long history of development, which dates back to the early 20th century. Several famous brands have emerged in the market, including TOYO, Sun Chemical, Flint Group, etc. As technology advances, printing ink formulas are adjusted accordingly.   Offset printing ink is one of the most popular printing inks in the world today. It is a type of ink designed to produce high-quality images and text with exceptional clarity. The ink formula contains a series of components, with pigments, binders, and additives among the key ones. The pigments provide the color of the ink, while the binders provide adhesion and durability. Additives are used to control viscosity, drying speed, and other properties.   Over the years, offset printing ink has undergone several significant changes. Initially, the inks used were made of oil-based materials, which helped in improving printing quality. Later, improvements in technology led to the development of eco-friendly, soy-based inks. Soy ink is biodegradable, and it can reduce waste and pollution. Today, there are even more environmentally friendly options, such as water-based and UV printing inks.   The future of offset printing ink looks bright, thanks to ongoing innovations and technological advancements. The demand for eco-friendly, non-toxic inks will continue to increase, and this will drive the industry towards more sustainable options. With increased investment in research and development, it is expected that new ink formulations will emerge, expanding printing capabilities to more substrates. And we believe that, with the proper adjustment of technologies, offset printing ink will be applied to the smart packaging industry, which will allow traditional printing to meet modern, intelligent packaging needs.   In conclusion, the use of offset printing ink has become an indispensable part of the printing industry. With advancements in ink formulas, these inks will continue to deliver high-quality prints and provide printers with an array of options to meet their customers' needs. As the industry continues to embrace new technology, we are witnessing a steady shift towards more eco-friendly and sustainable practices, setting the stage for a brighter and greener future.

Introduction: Understanding spot colors is crucial for both printing companies and brand owners who aim to achieve accurate and consistent color reproduction in the printing process. This article outlines key concepts and considerations related to spot colors that every printing professional and brand owner should be aware of.   Spot Colors vs. Process Colors: Spot colors, also known as solid colors or Pantone colors, are pre-mixed inks that offer precise and consistent color reproduction. Unlike process colors (CMYK), which are created by blending four ink colors, spot colors are formulated as individual inks. Spot colors are commonly used to achieve vibrant or specific brand-matching colors that are difficult to reproduce accurately with process colors alone.   Pantone Matching System (PMS): The Pantone Matching System is a standardized color reproduction system widely used in the printing industry. It provides a universal language for designers, printers, and brand owners to communicate specific colors. Each Pantone color is identified by a unique number, ensuring consistent color reproduction across different printing processes and locations.   Color Matching and Proofing: Achieving accurate color reproduction with spot colors requires proper color matching and proofing processes. Printers and brand owners should collaborate closely to define color expectations, provide Pantone color references, and conduct thorough color proofing to ensure the desired results before final production. Color swatches, physical proofs, or calibrated color monitors can help with color evaluation and approval.   Ink Formulation and Mixing: Spot colors are formulated with specific ink recipes using pigments and bases to achieve precise color results. Printing companies must have skilled ink technicians who can accurately mix and match spot colors according to Pantone specifications. It's essential to maintain consistency in ink formulation across different print runs to ensure color accuracy and brand integrity.   Substrate Considerations: Different printing substrates can affect how spot colors appear. Factors such as paper type, surface texture, and ink absorption can influence color vibrancy and consistency. Printers and brand owners must consider and test spot colors on various substrates to ensure desired color outcomes.   Color Management: Implementing robust color management practices is crucial for maintaining consistent and accurate spot color reproduction. This includes using color measurement instruments, such as spectrophotometers, to measure and control color accuracy and implementing color management workflows to monitor and adjust color throughout the printing process.   Design for Spot Colors: Designers play a vital role in leveraging spot colors effectively. They should understand the technical limitations and advantages of spot colors and design with spot color separations in mind. Well-prepared design files with proper color separation and Pantone color specifications simplify the printing process and enhance color predictability.   Conclusion: Spot colors are a powerful tool for achieving vibrant and accurate color reproduction in printing. Both printing companies and brand owners need to possess a solid understanding of spot colors, ink formulation, color management, and design considerations to ensure consistent and visually appealing results. By effectively leveraging spot colors, they can enhance brand recognition, produce high-quality printed materials, and meet or exceed customer expectations.

Introduction: In the dynamic world of printing, certain colors pose unique challenges when attempting to reproduce them accurately. These colors require special attention and expertise to achieve the desired results. Understanding these challenges and implementing appropriate techniques can help print professionals overcome obstacles and produce high-quality prints. In this article, we will explore the nine most challenging colors to print and discuss strategies for effectively managing them in the printing process. Metallic Colors: Metallic colors, such as gold, silver, and bronze, are known for their shimmering effect. These colors often require additional considerations due to their reflective properties. To achieve optimal results, it is essential to use metallic inks, which contain metallic particles, and carefully control factors like ink density, drying time, and the printing substrate's surface smoothness.   Neons and Fluorescents: Neon and fluorescent colors, like vivid pinks, greens, and yellows, are highly saturated and vibrant. However, they pose challenges in terms of color accuracy and consistency. Proper calibration of printers, accurate color profiling, and selecting suitable substrates that enhance the color intensity can help achieve the desired neon or fluorescent effect.   Pastels: Pastel colors, with their soft and delicate tones, can be challenging to reproduce accurately. These colors require careful ink formulation, precise control of ink coverage, and attention to the substrate's whiteness or base color. Adjusting color balance during prepress and consulting the Pantone pastel color guide can assist in achieving the desired pastel hues.   Deep Blacks: Obtaining rich and deep black colors adds complexity to the printing process. Pure black is achieved by using a combination of inks to enhance its density. However, issues like ink drying time, ink trapping, and maintaining overall color consistency can arise. Correct calibration of equipment, meticulous ink density control, and proper trapping techniques can help achieve consistent deep blacks.   Tints and Gradients: Tinted colors and gradients, which include smooth transitions from one color to another, can be challenging due to the potential for banding or visible color steps. To tackle this, utilizing high-resolution images, carefully controlling ink droplet size and coverage, and implementing advanced screening techniques like stochastic screening or hybrid screening can minimize undesired visual artifacts and ensure smooth transitions.   Metallic Spot Colors: Spot colors with metallic effects are used to achieve a premium and luxurious appearance. However, printing metallic spot colors presents challenges such as ink coverage, color accuracy, and reflective properties. Specialized metallic inks and expert color calibration are essential for obtaining consistent and accurate metallic spot colors.   Transparent Colors: Transparent colors, like certain shades of blue and green, can appear dull or transparent if not printed correctly. To overcome this challenge, adjusting ink density and using color management techniques that enhance the transparency and vibrancy of these colors is crucial.   PMS (Pantone Matching System) Colors: PMS colors, standardized ink colors used in the printing industry, can be challenging to reproduce accurately due to variations in printing processes and materials. It is crucial to consult the official Pantone color guides, calibrate equipment, and perform color proofing to achieve the closest possible match to the intended PMS colors.   Skin Tones: Reproducing natural and lifelike skin tones can be challenging in printing. It requires properly calibrating the color temperature, using suitable ink formulations, and choosing appropriate printing substrates with the right texture and whiteness. Collaborating with skilled designers, color management experts, and performing color tests can help achieve accurate and pleasing skin tones. Conclusion: Printing these nine challenging colors calls for careful planning, precise execution, and extensive knowledge of color management techniques. By understanding the potential hurdles and implementing appropriate strategies, print professionals can optimize their workflow and deliver exceptional prints that meet or exceed clients' expectations.