ITL and Lumen to cross-license UV LED curing rights

Patents held by UK-based Integration Technology (ITL) and US-based Lumen Dynamics (LDGI) are to be cross-licensed, enabling ITL products entry to the North American market and Lumen Dynamics enhanced access to its European counterpart.

The patents allow for greater control of the curing process while increasing the energy saving potential of the process.

A designer and developer of ultra-violet curing equipment for wide format inkjet printing, static head inkjet, industrial applications and various new emerging technologies, ITL first filed its UK and subsequent European patent in early 2003.

Filing its US patent in early 2001, LDGI operates within the life sciences, medical devices, optoelectronics and graphics digital printing markets.

Under the patents, users are able to control individual segments of a UV LED array to optimize the optical profile for each application. Applications could range from simply zoning the array for curing target areas of the image to more complex scenarios enabling the identification and exposure of complex geometric shapes. The Lumen patent specifically addresses varying power intensity across the array to optimize its cure efficiency.

‘This agreement marks an important step taken in both recognizing the emerging new market potential for UV LED curing and for protecting ours’ and Lumen Dynamics’ respective rights together with our customers’ usage of our technologies,’ said ITL managing director Adrian Lockwood.

‘We recognized the benefits of UV LED technology to our customers very early on when it first became available,’ said Allan Firhoj, president and CEO at LDGI. ‘Bringing these two patents together not only strengthens both companies’ portfolios of UV LED curing solutions, but also reinforces our position as IP leaders in UV LED curing property rights.’

ITL and Lumen Dynamics are also founder members of the recently-formed UV LED Curing Association. The new association has been established to address a growing need within the market for current and potential researchers, suppliers, integrators and end users to gain a better understanding about UV LED technology.

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