UV LED curing systems such as AeroLED produce high UV dose at a fraction of the electrical power of conventional UV systems.

UV curing systems manufacturer GEW will be showcasing its full product range at Labelexpo India, with a particular emphasis on its UV LED models. The company will highlight how UV LED technology enables narrow web printers to make substantial energy savings, and to dramatically reduce their carbon footprint.

On 10th November 2022, Delhi Expo Centre opens its doors to printers from across South Asia and beyond. GEW will be exhibiting on stand J31 and will be showing the company’s latest UV LED curing system, AeroLED, at the forefront of its product range. Furthermore, visitors to the show will be able to see AeroLED in operation on a working demonstration press.

As was the case at Labelexpo Americas in September, AeroLED will attract much attention due to the energy savings on offer to printers who upgrade to this system. GEW expects that most print companies will see energy savings between 50-70% when moving from conventional UV to UV LED.

Energy savings achieved by switching to AeroLED come in two forms. Firstly, LEDs produce high UV dose at a fraction of the electrical power of conventional UV systems. Secondly, LEDs do not go into standby and are instant on/off, as required. Currently UV arc systems are left in standby using approximately 20% power while jobs are changed; in comparison, LED will be switched off during this time. Over the 30,000 hour-plus life of an AeroLED lamp, this equates to significant energy savings.

To find out more about the possible energy savings from upgrading to AeroLED, printers can explore the GEW Operating Cost Comparison Calculator on the GEW website, at www.gewuv.com/roi_calculator/

A further benefit of AeroLED is its ArcLED compatibility. For printers still unsure of whether to upgrade from conventional UV, AeroLED’s ArcLED capabilities offer a risk-free upgrade option. Utilising the same fan and ducting formulation as GEW’s industry renowned E2C system, customers can switch between arc and LED curing on any station. In fact, customers with E2C and GEW’s RHINO/RLT power supply platform can upgrade to LED within a matter of hours by simply changing the cassettes and running a software upgrade.

In addition to offering ArcLED capabilities and greatly reduced operating costs, printers upgrading to AeroLED are able to free up a significant level of mains capacity, which can then be used to install new machinery and subsequently increase production capability. Two AeroLED systems have a lower electrical supply requirement than just one conventional arc UV system.

In terms of design, AeroLED is a high power system for full cure, printing, coating and converting applications up to 60cm wide, with the air being extracted by a single centralised fan sited away from the press. There is no need for integrated fans or electronics in the individual lampheads, which eliminates the high-pitched noise and risk of failure that these bring. AeroLED features the same LED chassis and core components as GEW’s LeoLED lamphead, for proven reliability. As with LeoLED, the lamphead has tough watertight seals to protect the LED modules from ingress and to make cleaning easy and safe. Every aspect of the design has been carefully considered to deliver robust performance and long-term reliability. As is the case with all new GEW UV products, AeroLED uses GEW’s RHINO power supply and control range, for ultimate reliability with Industry 4.0 approved, IoT Remote Monitoring as standard.

Robert Rae, Managing Director of Sales at GEW, comments: “UV LED is no longer just a technology for the future, it has become an essential technology for the present day. This change has been driven by the recent and dramatic increases in global energy prices, creating an unprecedented demand for low-energy, sustainable LED solutions as well as improved ink technology and availability. Technological advancement is leading to ever more efficient and cost-effective UV LED products, as is demonstrated by the introduction of AeroLED. The opportunities are huge and we are convinced that LED will soon become the dominant technology in our narrow web market.”

www.gewuv.com