And What Advantages Will It Give My Business Anyway?
In today’s hyper competitive print and advertising landscape, staying ahead means more than offering fast turnaround or sharp imagery. More often it also means looking forwards and adapting your production capabilities to meet evolving customer expectations. As we took a moment and looked at ways that print service providers were looking to diversify services and strengthen their businesses, the one technology that kept appearing again and again on LinkedIn, Reddit, industry forums, and conversations with peers was UV Printing.
No longer “another trend,” UV printing could be seen as transformational. Whether you run a sign shop, commercial print operation, packaging business, or a niche printing service, UV technology is reshaping what’s possible. Here we share what we think and why we believe UV printing (obviously with solutions from InkTec and JETRIX) should be seriously considered for forward-thinking printing businesses.
What is UV Printing?
Granted, UV printing has been around a while, but for those uninitiated it is a digital process where ultraviolet lamps instantly cure specially formulated UV inks as they are printed. Unlike conventional techniques (offset, solvent, latex), UV inks don’t dry by evaporation, instead they immediately harden under UV light.
As a result, UV Printing offers:
- Faster job completion
- Sharper print quality
- More substrates
- No drying time
- Greater durability
- Expanded product offering
As a consequence, it is ideal for an extensive range of applications, be it acrylic signage to glass décor, wood panels to metal sheets, corrugated packaging to promotional products. In fact, UV printing practically lets you print on nearly anything, at any scale.
Why should printers adopt UV Technology?
Here are the top 6 reasons why we believe that print service providers should opt for UV technology.
- Durability that outperforms traditional printing
UV prints resist fading, scratching, moisture, and temperature fluctuations. So, outdoor signage will typically last longer, with indoor print staying ever vibrant. While promotional products will continue to be pristine, even if they are used heavily. We find that for many of our customers who are regularly seeking longevity that opting for UV Printing has become a gamechanger. - Superior print quality driving higher margins
The very nature of UV inks means that rather than being absorbed into the substrate they sit on top of it instead. As a result, the creative benefits from pin-sharp details with deep, rich colours and smooth gradients. It also lends itself to creating vivid whites on dark materials and crisp defined text. This lends it towards being an ideal choice for high-value applications, such as premium packaging and product prototypes. - Versatility across nearly every material
While traditional print methods often require a pre-stage before the actual print production such pre-treatment, priming, or laminating, using UV printing eliminates many of these steps. As a result, alongside the cooler curing process the range of materials that can be printed directly on really is extensive. It ranges from acrylics, wood, glass, to paper / card-based medias to fabrics and rubber. - Faster production resulting in faster turnarounds
As UV inks cure instantly, there is no need to stall the printing process to allow for time on drying racks or outgassing. It avoids smudging issues and can be worked with immediately after printing for cutting, packaging and shipping. In this day of instant demands, being able to offer even faster turnarounds is an attractive proposition for printers and a key selling point for customers. - Eco friendly with fewer harmful emissions
With customers increasingly demanding greener print solutions, the options that UV printing gives helps printers meet those expectations. With the whole process from the printers to the inks ensuring that no VOCs and no solvents are involved. It also does not require drying heaters and by its very nature has a lower energy consumption. As InkTec originally started out as ink manufacturers, we have always been at the forefront of research and development and today is no different and why we have an extensive range of more eco-friendly UV inks for many of the leading large format printing brands including Mimaki, Epson and Kyocera printheads. Practically, UV is probably one of the most environmentally responsible printing technologies available today. - Long term cost-effectiveness
While initial investment may be perceived to be higher, UV printers such as the JETRIX range of flatbeds, roll-to-roll, hybrid and compact flatbeds work towards delivering a longer term return on investment. This relates to:
- Reduced energy consumption
- No lamination required for many jobs
- No drying time = higher throughput
- Less ink waste
- Expanded product offering brings new revenue streams
How does UV Printing compare vs Traditional Printing?
Below is a clear comparison of how the benefits of UV printing stack up against what is perceived to be traditional printing.
So where do InkTec and JETRIX come in?
Well, the business is uniquely positioned as manufacturers of both ink and UV printers, we have got a close handle on the very latest technology and developments. With much of our products researched, developed and manufactured in our HQ in South Korea we have the advantage of being able to draw upon over 30 years of expertise while also closely managing the manufacture from start to finish. No wonder, therefore, that InkTec and our JETRIX range consistently appear as leading solutions for businesses ready to upgrade to UV. Including:
- Renowned South Korean precision engineering
- Known for reliability and colour stability
- Advanced LED curing systems
- Smart anti-static and airflow technology
- Low ink consumption
- Intuitive software (especially with InkTec’s proprietary GUI)
- Outstanding flatbed and hybrid options
So…Should You Adopt UV Printing?
Businesses need to evolve with customer demands and with all the benefits and attributes highlighted that UV printing offers, now is a prime time to be part of this printing development if you haven’t already. With a range of UV printers to suit a variety of needs and demands JETRIX offers a strategic investment that expands what your business can offer and enhances what you already provide.
