MUTOH UV Flatbed (ultraviolet) digitally printed objects are vibrant, densely coloured and incredibly durable. Personalisation is a breeze, start-up costs are low and you can print on to any non-porous surface. Discover the magic of LED UV printing on to objects
The Science
Conventional printing processes allow the ink to dry naturally or in some cases via gently applied heat. Using LED UV ink however, the UV printing process works very differently and utilises an innovative method called ‘UV curing’. The magic is that it uses light (ultra-violet light) instead of heat to dry the ink and the real magic is that this takes only a split second! The huge appeal of LED UV printing is that the ink isn’t absorbed in to the object or substrate, it sits on the top, which means that you can print on to almost any non-porous surface – plastics, glass, wood, stone and metal are ideal. No receptive coating is needed so don’t be afraid to try anything you think will work, because it probably will!
What you Need:
Small format LED UV printer (those designed for objects usually have A3 or A2 sized plattens)
Rotary unit (for circular objects)
LED UV inks
Non-porous objects to print on (plastics, glass, wood, stone, metal)
How You Can Benefit
There are both business and operational benefits to LED UV object printing:
Business
Growth market for on-demand rapid customisation
Premium product business, high margins
Multiple applications
Straightforward operation
Low capital investment
Small format printers are compact desktop units ideal to fit in to a larger operation or for start-ups with limited space
Flexibility, fast turnaround times and personalisation. These are the key attributes of LED UV printing on to objects. The market for personalisation is constantly growing as companies strive to stand out from the crowd. But so can you! If you are an established print shop, take advantage of low capital investment and the opportunity to branch out in to new markets and add additional services for existing customers. If you are a start-up, object printing is the perfect place to start. Low investment, easy to source ready-made objects, easy set-up and ready to go when printed! And you can retain the high margins this premium product business model affords.
Operational
Perfect for prototypes, one-offs or short to medium production runs
Vibrant colour, resistant to scratches and fade
Photorealistic detail
Multiple applications
Fast turnaround (no drying time needed)
No finishing or sealing required
Easy colour management
Will print on to any non-porous surface
Print using a jig for objects with flat surfaces or rotary unit for circular objects
One of the biggest advantages of LED UV printing on to objects is the colour vibrancy and photorealistic quality of the image or logo on to the finished object. And thanks to the ink curing technology, there is absolutely no fade and great scratch resistance. The results are truly eye-catching! The technology also affords the minutest details and absolute clarity, so no matter how small your design or text, it will always be as perfectly clear as the original.
Your costs are kept low with small format LED UV printers and the inks. And because there is little set-up, prototyping and one-off pieces are as cost-effective as longer runs. It all adds up and it all helps retain your margins.
