Siegwerk, one of the leading providers of printing inks for packaging applications, labels, and catalogs, is now the first company in the market to offer LED UV printing inks for food and pharmaceutical packaging. By launching the SICURA Nutriflex LEDTec ink series, Siegwerk is specifically expanding its low migration UV printing ink portfolio. Expectations of UV printing inks are very high, particularly in the food and pharmaceutical packaging segment – users want the highest level of product safety at minimal migration risk coupled with optimal efficiency and short production time.

Seven years ago Siegwerk’s ink specialists were the first to demonstrate the use of inks, which had been matched to the specific radiation spectrum of LED UV light, on a Gallus EM 280 at Labelexpo 2009 in Brussels. Today, it is again Siegwerk, which is launching low migration LED UV inks for food and pharmaceutical packaging as well as label applications on the market, following a series of extensive and successful production tests.

Siegwerk's new LED UV Flexo Ink for food and pharmaceutical packaging applications. (Siegwerk/LEDinside)

An increasing number of printers are opting for LED UV technology regardless of the printing process used. With its potential for eco-efficiency, cost-effectiveness and productivity advantages, it is definitely one technological advance of recent years that will drive future development in the printing industry.

The new SICURA Flex LEDTec ink range is based on the successful SICURA Nutriflex 10 series. “Siegwerk regards LED UV curing as one of the growth drivers in the market. Overall we anticipate a volume-related switch from conventional UV to low migration UV inks in the printing market in 2016,” said Rolf Montag, Product Manager, Narrow Web Business Unit at Siegwerk Switzerland AG. “A further expansion of applications will enable printers to use LED UV inks for their full range of print jobs.“

The advantages of LED UV technology are perfectly obvious. In contrast to conventional UV emitters that feature mercury vapor lamps, LED diodes only emit the light of a very limited spectral range, which avoids very high-energy IR radiation as well as hazardous UVB and UVC rays. Other benefits include energy efficiency, low heat generation, the long service life of LED UV lamps, as well as zero generation of ozone and therefore no need for suction removal. Furthermore, UV power is available as soon as an LED UV system is activated, so that the process does not require any warm-up phase.

With the motto “We color the future”, Siegwerk will exhibit at this year’s drupa, the world’s leading trade show for graphic and industrial print, in Duesseldorf, Germany from May 31 to June 10, 2016. At Booth A58 in Hall 3 visitors can meet Siegwerk experts and obtain more information about Siegwerk’s range of products and services including its portfolio of UV printing inks.