Introduction
UV ink is a printing ink that cures instantly under ultraviolet light. It contains little or no volatile solvent, dries fast, and can go straight to stacking, die-cutting or lamination after printing — greatly improving throughput. Once cured the film adheres strongly, has high gloss and excellent abrasion and solvent resistance.
Features
- Instant cure under UV light, suited to high-speed printing
- Low VOC — almost solvent-free
- Strong adhesion, good gloss, abrasion and solvent resistance
- Printable security functions: UV invisible, thermochromic, optically variable
Processes & Substrates
Available in UV offset, UV screen and UV flexo versions for paper, plastics (PVC/PC/PET/PP, depending on surface treatment), metal and glass. A mercury or LED-UV curing unit is required, with energy density and wavelength matched to the ink system.
Applications
- Commercial and packaging printing
- Labels, hang tags and card printing
- Surface decoration on plastic and metal parts
- Short-run jobs with tight delivery deadlines
Customization & Printed Proofs
Formulations can be adjusted to your substrate and curing equipment, and an integrated UV-cure-plus-security version is available. Send us your substrate and equipment details and we will supply free printed proofs to verify cure and adhesion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Selection, detection, printing and ordering — answered.
How does UV ink differ from ordinary ink?
UV ink cures instantly under ultraviolet light and contains little or no solvent, so it dries fast and can be stacked for further processing immediately. The film adheres strongly, has good gloss, and resists abrasion and solvents — suited to high-speed printing and multi-substrate work.
What curing equipment is needed?
A UV curing lamp (mercury or LED-UV) whose energy density and wavelength match the ink system. We can suggest a curing energy window; run a small trial first to verify cure (touch dry, tape adhesion test) before mass production.
Which substrates are suitable?
Paper, plastics (PVC/PC/PET/PP, depending on surface treatment), metal and glass. Adhesion varies significantly between substrates, so please provide actual substrate samples for a proof.
Which functional versions are available?
UV offset, UV screen and UV flexo versions are available, and UV invisible fluorescent, thermochromic or optically variable security functions can be built into the UV system for an integrated UV-cure-plus-security ink.
Any storage and safety precautions?
Store away from light in a cool place, avoiding direct sunlight and UV lamps to prevent pre-curing; avoid direct skin contact and wear gloves and safety glasses when handling. Free printed proofs are available.
