In the inkjet printing industry, the evolution of UV LED technology has brought significant changes and breakthroughs. Before 2008, mercury lamp inkjet printers were already available on the market. However, at this stage, there were very few manufacturers of UV inkjet printers due to the immature technology and high costs. The use of UV inks was also more expensive compared to solvent-based inks, coupled with the additional cost associated with lamp maintenance. Consequently, most users opted for solvent-based inkjet printers.
The UV LEDs began to gain traction in May 2008 at Drupa 2008 in Germany. At that time, companies such as Ryobi, Panasonic and Nippon Catalyst installed UV LED curing devices into inkjet printers, causing a sensation in the printing industry. The introduction of these devices effectively solved many of the shortcomings of mercury lamp curing and marked a new era in the advancement of printing technology.
The industry is gradually moving into the UV LED era and has made great progress from 2013 to 2019. At the Shanghai International Advertising Expo in those years, more than a dozen manufacturers exhibited UV LED printing curing system. Notably, in 2018 and 2019, all printing equipment and inks on display were UV LED-based. In just ten years, UV LED curing has completely replaced mercury curing in the inkjet printing industry, highlighting the superiority and innovation of this technology. Data shows that there are more than tens of thousands of UV LED printer manufacturers worldwide, demonstrating the widespread adoption of the technology.
The use of UV LED lamps solves the shortcomings of mercury curing lamps and opens up new possibilities and opportunities in the printing equipment market. As the technology continues to evolve, it is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the printing industry, and further advances and innovations are expected.
Post time: Feb-01-2024