DALLAS, TX—What should printers consider when deciding to implement E-Beam or LED-UV curing technology? That is the question being posed to attendees by Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica and Flexographic Technical Association at a new half-day seminar titled “We Have The Cure,” scheduled for March 28 in the Dallas headquarters of Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica.
“Our goal is to help printers and converters determine which curing technology is best for them and their market,” said Jeff Dietz, vice president at Koenig & Bauer Flexotecnica. “Both E-Beam and LED-UV are achieving great popularity. We’ve invited leading experts to discuss the benefits and opportunities of each technique and how they relate to electron beam curing and LED-UV to the press, inks and plates. We’ll have on hand an experienced brand owner to talk about trends in packaging and how it impacts the need for newer curing technology. The round table discussion will include two special guests: a narrow web printer and a flexible packaging printer who are both currently running E-Beam and LED-UV. Every participant will leave with a clear understanding of the process, variables to consider when implementing, and the knowledge to determine whether this technology is right for their business.”
Topics to be covered over course of the seminar will include:
- How to remove the need for drying time or powder with inks that cure instantly
- Expanding substrate offerings to include plastics and other materials that don’t absorb inks
- How to achieve quality, safety-conscious print results with heat-sensitive substrates
- Why and how LED-UV lamps last significantly longer—(10x) than traditional UV lamps, saving time and money (LED-UV modules can provide 30,000+ hours of curing, when operated at the proper power capacity)
- How to eliminate heat, ozone and mercury from the press room, making the process safer and improving overall environmental impact
- How LED-UV curing eliminates the release of VOCs because UV inks are free of solvents and avoids the environmental issues caused by them
- How to bypass the energy costs and heat-related hazards of heatset drying
- Which value-added coatings can be used efficiently and effectively
- High-end printing effects, like drip-off (aka. “strike through”) and how they can be achieved, and discussion of further developments in this arena that are broadening creative applications and what is possible with printing
The seminar begins at 9 a.m. with a warm welcome from the organizations along with coffee followed by each presentation. At 12, there will be a break for lunch followed by a round table discussion and Q&A to end the session at 2 p.m. The seminar is free for FTA members.