Can LED curing save offset?

In the battle for print orders with short turnaround times offset printers have a new weapon: LED curing. LED curing dries the inks which are especially formulated for this process inside the press with the extra advantage that there is no heat transfer onto the printed sheet. This means that the sheet can be processed as soon as it leaves the press. Following in Ryobi´s footsteps, Riyobi pioneered this new curing technology, Heidelberg, Komori, Manroland and KBA are supplying offset presses with this technology.

The disadvantages
However, there are some disadvantages to LED curing. There are extra costs for installation, it is still relatively difficult to get hold of, the cost of the ink (nearly double of that of standard ink), the energy use and installation of the cooling system and the right distance between dryer and media which needs to be absolutely right.

The advantages
It seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, seeing that Heidelberg sold over 20 in Japan alone. Apart from the fast and complete curing and the absence of heat on the printed sheet, the long lifespan of the LED lamps – on average 20,000 hours vs 2,000 for mercury lamps -, the fast and simple changing of LEDs, the fast and simple switching on and off of LEDs, no ozone production and consequently no expensive ozone processing as well as the consistency of the actual curing.

Information
More information about LED can be found on the (sales) publication by UV-technik Meyer which can be downloaded from our downloads page, in the UV Technology guide by Bundesgenossenschaft Druck und Papierverarbeiting, and with the manufacturers.