PRESS DRYING/CURING--The ABCs of Press Drying

"Current industry trends are very strong for UV in the commercial printing market," Midlik notes. "UV lacquer coatings on cover stock, brochures, advertising and posters continue to be the strongest market."

Another feather in the cap of UV curing is its environmental benefits. Since the inks, varnishes and adhesives are 100 percent solids, no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are generated. This eliminates the need for expensive solvent recovery and solvent destruction systems, reports UV Technology Project Engineer Mark Tausch.