Solvent Printing vs UV Printing

Understanding: Solvent vs UV printing
UV printing is the current buzzword of the printing industry. Many have heard the term but few consumers know what it entails. Below you will find an introduction to the differences between older solvent-based technology and the current UV systems now available.

Inkjet printing, desktop publishing and large format prints – have previously used solvent-based technology to adhere ink to substrate. The process entails mixing pigment and a solvent to create liquid ink. The printer head then transfers the liquid onto a substrate, as the solvent evaporates a hard layer of ink remains. In principle, watercolor paint works the same way. While water used to dissolve paints is harmless industrial solvents for printing are extremely toxic. To ensure the safety of employees and customers at a printing facility, complex ventilation systems must be installed to remove and capture hazardous airborne chemicals.

UV stands for Ultra Violet. The inks in UV printing do not dry but are cured by intense blast of ultra violet light. Many times more powerful than sunlight, UV lamps move back and forth with every pass of the printer head instantaneously fixing the printed image. By removing solvents from the process, virtually all dangers for the operator are removed with the exception of accidental sunburn :).

As printing technology evolves UV printing is fast becoming the new industry standard. Because there are no solvents used this system produces no dangerous VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), requires no ventilation, has a higher percentage of recyclable content, and cuts cost because of reduced drying time. WER-China has currently many models of UV printing machines. To learn more about the eco-friendly aspects with UV printing, please contact our sales 008615021963625.

Differences in quality for UV and solvent processes are also important to consider. Research and Development for new technology now revolves almost exclusively around UV printers. Older solvent machines have reached their technological pinnacle as the rearguard passes them by. UV technology offers sharper images, greater detail, wider color ranges, faster and safer printing. On every front UV technology is matching and in many accounts surpassing existing technology.