For over 45 years, UV lamps with their broad emission spectrum have proven effective in numerous applications. By comparison, LED UV technology generally requires a higher initial investment but offers specific advantages: demand-based output control and the long service life of LED modules can – depending on the application and operating conditions – have a positive effect on energy demand and maintenance requirements.
In UV curing, the primary objective is to meet the curing requirements of the end product. Depending on the application, both UV lamp systems and LED UV systems can be used. A meaningful comparison therefore requires consideration of the entire curing process; connected load alone is not sufficient.
Important factors that influence the choice of a suitable system are
LED technology offers clear advantages, particularly for applications where high production speeds and specific product properties are required, such as in commercial printing. The decision in favour of a UV lamp or an LED UV system should therefore always be based on the individual requirement profiles of the respective application.
In addition to the requirements on UV or LED UV systems, there are technical differences. The most important features of each technology for industrial curing are outlined below.
The task of radiation curing is clearly defined. At the end of the process chain there is a product which has to meet the customer’s requirements in terms of curing. In this process, both an LED and a UV lamp may be useful tools in satisfying these requirements with maximum efficiency. There is therefore no point in considering simply the electrical load of both systems.
Typical requirement profiles for successful integration are defined by the following factors:
The above-mentioned requirements suggest the use of light-emitting diodes in the inkjet process or for adhesive applications, for example. Another common example for the use of LED systems is commercial printing. Product properties and production speed have a high priority here.
