There is no getting out of printing – ask industry identity Peter Sage, formerly proprietor of supplier Graftek. After taking time out to travel and relax, he’s back in the game with a new business, Pressology, promoting UV LED technology for sheetfed presses.
The amiable Sage reckons he’s got his first sale for the innovative system, although cautions against counting chickens too early. He claims UK-based GEW is the largest manufacturer of UV systems in the world and is set to revolutionise printing.
“It’s like what occurred between standard flexographic printing and UV flexo. Once printers saw the advantage of UV they never went back, and this can also be seen particularly on narrow-web presses for label printers,” he said.
“GEW’s Rhino power supply is more efficient and robust than anything else on the market in this category, and paired with the LED output system, is much more power efficient. The reason is that LED heads don’t have to warm up and cool down like older arc lamp systems. Unlike the older systems, water-cooled LED lamp heads produce little heat.”
Each drying unit is connected through the internet to GEW. This allows the company to continually monitor the performance of the system. Sage claims it not only gives GEW a trouble-shooting window for the printer, but delivers each customer a monthly report on the unit’s performance.
“Sheet fed printers have a lot more to gain than web printers and that includes no set off; no distortion; no powder spraying required; instant drying before perfecting, and no need to coat for protection, as the ink dries as a polymer and resists scratching and marking. Overseas reports show that printers are achieving a reduction of up to 20% in wastage, while achieving a brighter job with more vivid colours. Some printers with digital presses are also reporting that they’re able to achieved a closer match to their digital presses, which becomes an advantage in today’s digital world.”
Sage maintains flat sheet printers are reporting a payback period of around two years, and with the ability to be able to go straight to the bindery or reprinting when finished, the GEW Sheet fed unit makes a great deal of sense. Pressology has retained Australian Graphic Servicing to do the installation nationwide, and all GEW units can be retrofitted to any existing press.