Glunz & Jensen expanding business with UV LED

Glunz & Jensen acquired the initial stake in Othonia through its subsidiary Glunz & Jensen Microflex. Glunz & Jensen has the option to purchase the remaining shares in Othonia in the future.

Othonia develops a computer‐controlled UV LED concept for curing surfaces, which is designed to replace the original mercury lamp technology.

Glunz & Jensen will incorporate this UV LED technology into its current exposure products for the flexo pre-press industry, where it can benefit the production of flexographic plates, and make it more environmentally friendly and cost effective. This will see Glunz & Jensen bring to market a generic product that can be tailor made for OEM partners. Initial field tests have shown ‘very promising results’, Glunz & Jensen said, with plans to launch the first commercial product in the first quarter of 2015.

Glunz & Jensen is also in discussion with printing press manufacturers about using UV LED technology in connection with the drying modules of printing units for offset, flexo and digital presses. Again, an initial concept evaluation has taken place and shown ‘very promising results’.

Further, the new UV LED technology will be used for curing surfaces in other applications, such as paint and lacquer in the furniture industry. Glunz & Jensen is currently designing a field test module for evaluation in a real production environment. The first field test unit is expected to be installed at a Danish customer site in October.

Moving forward, Glunz & Jensen and Othonia will cooperate on the development and commercialisation of the technology. Othonia’s products will be marketed by Glunz & Jensen.