GEW showcased UV LED system AeroLED and more at Labelexpo

UV curing systems manufacturer GEW had a good run at the recently concluded Labelexpo Europe 2023. The company presented its full product range at the show, with a focus on its air-cooled UV LED system AeroLED, launched in 2022.

Robert Rae, GEW’s managing director of sales, commented: ‘It was fantastic to return for the first time since 2019. The exhibition was exceptional for GEW, with a record number of visitors to our stand, and a very healthy order book to show for it. We displayed our full product range, but UV LED was top of the agenda for most of our visitors.’

On-press presentations demonstrated impressive energy savings

GEW staged a series of on-press presentations at the exhibition, which demonstrated the energy and cost savings that can be expected when upgrading the curing technology on a press, from conventional UV Arc to UV LED.

The presentations took place at the Mark Andy and Omet stands over the course of the four-day show. Many visitors were surprised by the energy savings that were validated and displayed on large screens during each presentation, savings of over 70 percent were achieved in every case, when switching from Arc to LED.

Rae adds: ‘Our air-cooled AeroLED UV curing system was the subject of particular interest, and our ability to demonstrate this technology in action, live on OEM presses at the show, meant that we could clearly demonstrate the energy and cost savings that printers can expect with a switch to UV LED. We measured and published our energy consumption live and were able to repeatedly demonstrate a 75 percent saving when compared to conventional UV arc technology.'

Over 150 GEW lamps used across Labelexpo

GEW systems were used by many flexo press manufacturers at Labelexpo, with the company’s equipment in use on machinery at ABG, Bobst, Gallus, Grafotronic, Lombardi, Mark Andy, Multitec, Nilpeter and Omet, among others.

Marcus Greenbrook, international sales director at GEW, remarked: ‘Each time I visit these exhibitions I am proud, but not surprised, to see that GEW systems are so widely chosen by so many manufacturers. There is no better recommendation we could ask for, and this omnipresence must also speak volumes to the show’s visitors.’

Press conference highlighted ambitious sustainability drive

GEW also presented a joint press conference with the All4Labels group, at Labelexpo. The conference highlighted the remarkable sustainability drive that has been embarked upon by All4Labels, with the upgrade of around 70 of its presses to GEW’s UV LED technology, across 12 sites in Europe and the UK. Under this program, over 600 UV lamp heads are being installed and around 90 percent of the upgrades involve GEW’s energy-saving air-cooled UV LED system, AeroLED. The entire installation program is due for completion within 2023.

The press conference was presented by Andy Thomas-Emans of Labels & Labeling and included an absorbing question and answer session with All4Labels’ Severin Much, who has been instrumental in the implementation of the UV LED upgrade program. 

Malcolm Rae honored with 2023 Global Achievement Award

Furthermore, Malcolm Rae, founder of GEW, was presented with the 2023 Global Achievement Award at the Label Industry Global awards on the first evening of Labelexpo. The award is the most prestigious accolade and recognizes ‘an individual who has made a key contribution to the promotion and growth of the label industry and has been a high-profile industry influencer and motivator’.

Robert Rae commented: ‘To see my father being honored with the Global Achievement Award completed the set and made this year’s Labelexpo the perfect end to the Brussels era. We now look forward to Barcelona in 2025.’