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COMET, PCT Showcases EBLab with Workshops
Switzerland-based COMET Group and PCT Engineered Systems, Davenport, Iowa, recently launched a fully operational, multifunctional industrial ebeam laboratory. The EBLab unit features innovative ebeam lamp technology and nitrogen inerting for surface curing applications, delivering a maximum energy level of 200 kV for polymeric cross-linking development. It is being used for instructional and technical proof of concept purposes. The companies officially launched the unit in July, in partnership with Georgia Power. A series of workshops focusing on the facilitation of new product developments in a variety of application areas will be held in Atlanta later this year. For more information, contact Tony Carignano at awcarignano@teampct.com.
American Ultraviolet’s Spectra-Coat Series Offers Flexibility
Lebanon, Indiana-based American Ultraviolet’s Spectra-Coat standard digital/offset series offers flexibility, with coating capacities ranging from 20 to 40 inches wide. The 36″ and 40″ are available with or without feeders and stackers. Standard features for the series include aqueous and UV coating capabilities – with easy changovers, an adjustable head to accommodate up to 3/8″ substrate thickness – with a 7/8″ thick option and the capability of being setup with one to three separate UV tanks and pumps for coatings and wash. Learn more at americanultraviolet.com.
Systematic Automation Develops Ultralight UV Conveyor
Systematic Automation, Farmington, Connecticut, has developed a compact modular ultraviolet conveyor for curing coatings, adhesives and pigmented inks, featuring 400 watts per inch of focused curing power; a patented irradiator design, including specular mirror finish inserts that reported reflect 98% of the ultraviolet energy; and a touchscreen control panel that can be mounted anywhere – on a conveyor, machine or system. For more information, visit systauto.com.
Hönle Introduces Drying Systems for Flexo, Digital Printing
Hönle, headquartered in Gräfelfing, Germany, will debut new drying solutions for flexo and digital applications at Labelexpo 2015. The new LED Powerline flexo cures highly reactive inks in a compact module. It features an irradiation width of 10″ or 16″, and a performance of 16 watts. The jetCure LED is a high-intensive curing unit with a lightweight, compact design that offers the benefits of traditional and LED-curing technology. The jetCure IR’s compact design allows for easy integration. Different wavelengths can be generated by a quick IR lamp exchange. Depending on the application, a combination with hot air is possible. For more information, visit hoenle.de/en/.
Allnex Debuts Polyester Acrylate
Allnex, Brussels, Belgium, introduces EBECRYL® 854, the latest addition in a portfolio of energy-curable polyester acrylates. It is the first resin in the company’s polyester acrylates product range that offers an optimal balance of elasticity and hardness. The abrasion resistance makes it ideal for use as a sealer, and it is particularly attractive for use in furniture and parquet coatings. The product offers excellent flow – even when used in combination with a high level of fillers – which offers ease-of-formulation and efficiency. To learn more, visit allnex.com.
Melrob Launches Acrylate from Soltech
Melrob US Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, launched a new high-functionality water soluble aliphatic urethane acrylate from Soltech Ltd. Solmer® PSW5050 is stable even at 20% solids, and the combination of hardness, non-yellowing and water resistance properties after curing make it an ideal resin for wood flooring. For more information, visit melrob.com.
GEW Innovates with the ArcLED Hybrid UV Curing System
GEW, Crawley, England, has developed a hybrid UV curing system called ArcLED. ArcLED enables hybrid, interchangeable UV curing on every print station – allowing a printer to use a combination of arc and LED technology on the same press. With interchangeable cassettes, every print station has the same lamphead casing, power supply, cables and control. The printer inserts the cassette, and then the ArcLED Rhino automatically recognizes it and adjusts the power type (AC or DC) and running parameters, allowing printers to switch from DC power for the LEDs to high voltage AC for the arc lamps, and vice versa. For more information, visit gewuv.com.
Dymax Formulates Superior 3D Printing Resins
Dymax Oligomers & Coatings, Torrington, Connecticut, offers Bomar™ oligomers for formulating printing inks and resins for SLA, DLP and 3D inkjet printers. The selection of oligomers feature varying Tgs that allow for flexibility in mechanical properties. A large range of viscosities are available, and the non-yellowing oligomers offer higher optical clarity and color stability. The oligomers also exhibit high impact resistance. The end product will feature a tack-free surface that is easy to paint or finish. For more information, visit dymax-oc.com.
Sartomer’s UV-Curable PUDs Improve Formulating Latitude of Coatings
Sartomer, a business unit of Arkema Inc., has developed a new line of UV-curable water-based PUDs. Developed to be free of solvents, surfactants and tin catalysts, CN9500 and CN9501 provide enhanced formulation latitude. Both products are supplied at approximately 40% solids content; are compatible with other water-based coatings; contribute coatings properties after water removal and UV curing; and both include good flow, leveling and a low minimum film formation temperature (MFFT), as well as being dry to the touch after water removal. They create a warm appearance on wood, are non-yellowing and are easily matted to a low-gloss finish. CN9500 exhibits balanced flexibility and hardness, while CN9501 has hardness and abrasion resistance without brittleness. A shared resistance to water, stain and chemicals makes these PUDs ideal for coatings (wood, plastic, paper, paperboard and metal) and adhesives (laminating and pressure-sensitive). For more information, visit sartomer.com.
Excelitas’ AC2 Series Provides Compact UV-LED Curing for Inks, Coatings and Adhesives
The OmniCure AC275 and AC2110 air-cooled UV-LED curing systems from Excelitas Technologies Corporation, Waltham, Massachusetts, combine a compact form factor with advanced front-end optics to provide high peak irradiance. Multiple UV-LED heads can be adjoined while maintaining optical uniformity between each system. The flexibility to achieve larger curing areas in a variety of customizable lengths enables manufacturers to improve throughput without compromising performance. The standard AC2 systems provide a reduced output angle from typical LED systems, which helps eliminate back reflection of the light to the print heads, making the AC2 series ideal for printing and a range of applications with varying needs. For more information, visit excelitas.com/OmniCure.
AMS Announces Market-Ready UV-LED Curing Solution
The FLEXO Series from Air Motions Systems Inc., River Falls, Wisconsin, delivers all the benefits of high speed UV-LED curing in a durable, flexible package that can be tailored to any web width or curing scenario. The following benefits are immediately realized when compared to typical mercury arc lamp curing in flexo: higher production speeds, especially with opaque whites and blacks, improved adhesion from 6x greater UV-LED intensity, no curing degradation over thousands of hours of production, downtime avoidance from air-cooled lamps over-temp or shutter faults, approximately 50% energy reduction across the entire press and more. For more information, visit airmotionsystems.com.
RAHN-Group Report Highlights Alternatives for BPA in UV/EB Formulations
Bisphenol A alternatives in UV/EB formulation is the topic of Switzerland-based RAHN-Group’s new lab report. According to the company, while regulatory driven dialogue continues, Bisphenol A-based chemistry will remain dominant in many market segments worldwide. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that other classes of oligomers can provide both adequate performance and reasonable costs in high UV/EB applications. For more information, visit rahn-group.com/en/energycuring/news/bpa/.
Phoseon Reaches UV-LED Lamp Lifetime Milestone
Phoseon Technology, Hillsboro, Oregon, announced reaching a major milestone for UV-LED light sources. As a result of rigorous efforts, lifetime testing of lamps now has surpassed 50,000 hours of operational on-time, with lamp irradiance being greater than 80% of its original output, as compared to the first test results five-plus years ago. For perspective, utilizing a single shift workweek of 2,000 hours per year, 50,000 hours equates to 25 years of UV-LED operating on-time. The company maintains over 50 UV-LED curing lamps in various stages of lifetime testing at any given time, and the light sources are stressed with decreased air flow, high temperatures and other parameters that mimic the harsh working conditions of industrial UV-LED curing equipment. For more information, visit phoseon.com.
