What percentage of flexo printers currently use UV in at least one or more print stations?
It is hard to know for sure how many existing presses are equipped with UV. Many of the presses prior to approximately 1996 were not well arranged to accept UV. However, since 1996, most press manufactures have included a UV consideration in the design of their newer equipment. Depending on the manufacturer (some are targeted for markets that have adopted more UV usage than others), UV lamps are equipped on at least one location (usually end of station for curing of varnishes or other coatings) on over 60% of the new in-line flexo presses sold. Additionally, UV lamps are equipped in all print stations on over 30% of all new in-line flexo presses sold. The number of presses equipped with UV continues to grow each year. Note: in Europe, where more than 85% of new in-line presses sold have full UV—for performance as well as environmental advantages—the use of UV has grown faster than in the U.S.
