3 Reasons Why UV LED Is the Printing Technology for Today
The way we live, work, and interact with the world around us is being significantly altered by the global pandemic. From the printing industry's perspective, the versatility of UV LED technology gives print service providers an advantage when it comes to being ready for the demands of the day.
For Mimaki, UV LED is not a new venture—we were among the first manufacturers to adopt the technology and remain at the forefront of the field, continuing to devote considerable research and development to making our UV LED offering even stronger. The benefits of UV LED are arguably more relevant than ever, as evidenced by the growing number of companies installing Mimaki machines equipped with UV technology.
UV LED is having a particularly strong impact on the graphics board market. With adoption on the rise, Mimaki is at the forefront of this growth, maintaining the number one position in the industry market for two consecutive quarters. Looking at the last five years, Mimaki's adoption rate is more than twice that of the total market, so there is no doubt that the market is heading in the right direction.
With several new UV products unveiled at FESPA 2021 in Amsterdam earlier this year, Mark Sollman and his team discussed some of the key trends and advantages of the technology, and why it is ideally suited to meet the needs of a post-pandemic printing industry. Three key trends were outlined that demonstrate this point. Mimaki UJF-7151 plus II Diversification into new markets UV LED
compatibility is much greater than other ink technologies. The versatility of UV technology opens the door to a world of new applications and markets, including high-value areas where white and clear ink are advantageous. The Mimaki UJF-7151plus II, one of our latest UV flatbed printers, for example, allows users to print directly onto a wide range of media, such as acrylic, metal, glass, and even leather, so the opportunities are limitless!
Delivered in an on-demand world
The pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated our desire for instant gratification, and this is having a significant impact on the printing industry. Mimaki's UV LED experience offers exceptional speed, efficiency, and flexibility, perfectly aligned with our rapidly evolving world. A machine such as the new Mimaki UV LED JFX600-2513 printer, which offers print speeds of up to 200m²/h, provides businesses with a dramatic leap in productivity that helps them meet and exceed expectations for immediacy.
Working toward a greener future
Making businesses, products, and supply chains more sustainable is a major focus as we work to address the climate crisis. UV LED emits fewer volatile organic compounds, reduces energy consumption and waste, and with no warm-up time, it reduces the use of time and energy between jobs. A technology like UV LED, with so many business advantages, that also provides a more environmentally friendly alternative, is a great tool to have at your disposal, as meeting sustainability goals becomes an increasing focus upstream and downstream.
There is a world of opportunities with UV LED that not only help printing companies stay competitive and explore new revenue streams, but also keep them in tune with the driving forces of the UV market.
Mark Sollman, Product Manager EMEA, Mimaki Europe
