Barthel Group standardizes LED UV curing

The servo-driven Evolution Series presses, 4-color and 8-color versions feature 430mm (17in) web width and a high specification, including web cleaning and corona treatment. The 8-color machine also has an overhead rail system for moveable unwinding/rewinding for cold foil and lamination and die-cutting units with adjustable counterpressure. 

The GEW LeoLED systems chosen for the new Mark Andy presses offer conventional mercury arc and LED lamp UV curing. This affords ATP the flexibility to use inks and lacquers of both types, as not all are available in the LED formulation at present.

According to the operators at ATP, the Evolution Series presses are user-friendly, with short set-up times and minimal waste even at production speeds of 230m/min. The modular design allows the presses to be adapted to changes in market demand by reconfiguration with additional units, as required.

‘We have focused for many years on resource-saving production processes to minimize energy and material waste wherever possible,’ said Mischa Barthel, managing partner at Barthel Group. ‘This applied not only to the choice of LED UV curing, which offers longer lamp life with reduced energy and heat flow but the elimination of ozone and the need for extraction facilities.’

Andreas Puzik, managing director at ATB, commented: ‘In addition to the ecological aspects, the new Mark Andy Evolution Series presses had to meet the highest levels of productivity, process speed and print quality. So, we opted to fit both with Martin Automatic MBS unwind splicers and ABG automatic rewinders.”

‘Mischa Barthel chose the Martin Automatic MBS splicer because of its reputation for being the most robust and reliable nonstop unwinder on the market,’ added Bernd Schopferer, European sales manager for Martin Automatic. ‘After visiting a working installation and noted the efficiency of Martin splicers and Mark Andy flexo presses with LED UV producing a variety of short and long-run jobs, it was an easy decision for him to invest in this economic and ecological solution.’

‘The decision by the Barthel Group to standardize on LED UV curing is one that is becoming more familiar in the narrow web sector,’ said Timo Donati, Mark Andy’s sales manager for DACH and Benelux. ‘Mark Andy recognized the value of LED UV as far back as 2009, but its take-up by the industry was limited by the low volume and high cost of LED formulation inks and lacquers on offer, which are different from those used in conventional UV curing. This issue has largely been resolved and around 60 percent of the new Mark Andy presses installed in my area are now LED UV equipped. 

‘Too many companies just look at the upfront cost and don’t evaluate the lifetime value of technology. There are now sufficient systems out in the market to draw conclusive evidence that LED UV is better in every aspect than conventional arc lamp systems.’

‘It’s how the numbers stack up that’s impressive,’ agreed Bernd Prattl, sales manager of GEW. ‘We estimate that our LED UV offers a 35 percent higher dosage, rising to 40 percent higher over 30 W/cm at a 50% lower purchase price level for the system – and that doesn’t take into account the reduced running costs of lower energy consumption and fewer lamp changes. I estimate a typical LED lamp life of 40,000 hours, allowing GEW to offer a 3-year warranty with no usage limit.’