Since 2002, the UV Days have been a guarantee for first-hand expert knowledge, a diverse program, important industry contacts and a coherent overall concept. As a UV specialist, we would like to focus on our bundled know-how together with you and inform both UV and LED beginners as well as experts from printing and industrial applications from very different perspectives on the subject of UV technology. Impulse lectures, discussion rounds, laboratory tests and company tours round off our in-house exhibition.

Visit our partners in the UV EXPO

The flexographic printing industry is excellently positioned for all current and future tasks. Whether it's thinner substrates or the increasingly sophisticated structure of packaging materials - flexographic printing sets standards in quality and efficiency.

Together with its members, the DFTA continues to develop the leading printing process in packaging printing, setting new standards in research and development.

PrintCity Allianz has developed and produced multifunctional packaging for Germany's oldest sparkling wine producer, Kessler. The packaging is convincing both at the point of sale and in its function as a champagne cooler. Learn more about this extraordinary packaging. 

Speakers: 

Rainer Kuhn, PrintCity Allianz

Arno Dürr, Weilburger Graphics

Zeller & Gmelin, Marcus Ruckstädter

Leonhard Kurz Foundation, N.N. 

IST METZ, Joachim Kranz

Metsä Board, Dennis Grotian

Our guides will lead you through the IST production facilities. Here you will learn useful information about the production of LED components and systems. We look forward to your participation.

Production of individual coating solutions

S1 Optics GmbH is both a service provider for high-quality coatings and a supplier of complete solutions. We develop and produce optical functional coatings on the substrate materials glass, metal and plastic. You can obtain both dielectric and metallic coatings from us.

Discover the revolutionary solution for LED-UV FCM offset printing in the label sector.

LED-UV offers a multitude of advantages especially in the field of printing on non-absorbent substrates. The use of heat-sensitive substrates means that conventional UV lamps have reached their limits.

But why is this technology so challenging? A brief insight into the chemistry of an offset ink and the special challenges of LED UV FCM. It requires a deep understanding of chemical processes and careful selection of FCM initiators to meet food safety requirements. At the same time, the balance between adhesion and reactivity is one of the core tasks in the development of an offset ink in this application area. All these tasks have been mastered by Zeller+Gmelin and are presented to you.

Nico Zepfel und Michael Handl, Zeller & Gmelin 

The subject of print finishing has long since evolved beyond the technical possibilities of varnishing, metallization, etc. We are now talking about a combination of interactive print, experience print, and surprice print. We have long been talking about a combination of interactive print, experience print, emotional print and surprice print. It's an endless toolbox for adding value to print and making it as attractive as possible.

Learn more about the conceptual approach, the possibilities of printed electronics and details on the value positioning of print.

Speakers:

• f:mp. Rüdiger Maaß
• Philipp Hölzl, Elantas

Sustainability

Sustainability has long since arrived in society - even if the views of the necessary measures in connection with the urgency are hotly debated. The graphic arts industry has been working on this issue for decades and is far ahead of many other industries. Nevertheless, there is an immense need for education in order to proactively wait and not be surprised by hasty legislative proposals. Learn more about the topic from theory and applied practice. Some pioneers enrich our lecture program - you can be curious.

Moderation: Rüdiger Maaß, f:mp. 

Speakers:

Thomas Glaser, Siegwerk - DeInking of UV and LED UV inks
Christophe Dujardin, Leonhard Kurz Foundation - Kurz Transferrecycling
Dennis Grotian, Metsä Group - Sustainable production of board

Excimer technology is used in many industrial sectors and applications. Irradiation of surface coatings with short wavelength excimer beams causes polymerization in the top layer of the coating. The polymerization causes shrinkage and the near-surface film exhibits micro-folding, resulting in a matte surface. UV cleaning processes play an important role in the display and semiconductor industries. UV light with a very short wavelength (maximum 172 nm) is used to break the bonds of organic substances. The result is a clean surface. 

Live demo of excimer technology in our UV Technology Campus

According to the "Minamata Convention" agreed by the United Nations in 2013, mercury is one of the substances that are classified as environmentally hazardous and whose use is regulated by the RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU. Although the production, import and export of products containing mercury has been banned since 2020 as a result, mercury vapor lamps in printing presses, such as those used for classic UV drying, are still subject to an exemption.

How long is this exemption valid? What exemptions are there and to whom do they apply? Learn more about this in the presentation by: 

Roger Starke, VDMA

LED rocks the coldset!
LED technology has significantly expanded the range of applications for UV curing in recent years. The advantages of LED technology also open up many highly attractive possibilities for coldset presses: 
1. intensive contrasts combined with brilliant colors
2. flat and smooth paper after printing and curing without waves and wrinkles
3. very high resistance of inks, therefore no soiling of hands by the reader of the printed magazine
4. no siliconization required

The publishing house CH Media and the UV pioneer IST Metz GmbH are convinced of this. Is LED technology about to make its next breakthrough in this market segment? You are cordially invited to form your own opinion: LED rocks!
Get an impression on site
Together with the printing press manufacturer Koenig & Bauer, the printing ink specialist HuberGroup, the publishing house Aarauer Zeitung/ CH Media, and the team from IST, you can gather impressions, examine samples, and hear first-hand experiences.

WHO DOES THE FUTURE BELONG TO? LED UV OR UV LAMP
LEDs have already established themselves in lighting technology. LED technology for curing printing inks has also already found its way into the printing industry. Applications in other industrial sectors are on the verge of a breakthrough, but are also waiting for the development of LEDs with shorter wavelengths.

IS LED-UV AN ENERGY-SAVING CONCEPT?
Under what conditions does an LED system save electricity? This probably most frequent question in connection with LED technology cannot be answered in a blanket manner and always depends on the operating and machine conditions. In the meantime, energy savings are basically possible when curing with LED systems, since the reactivity of the chemistry has been improved. In addition, an LED system is immediately ready for use after being switched on, so that stand-by times are eliminated. A format circuit allows LEDs to be switched off outside the active working width. Triggered pause switching between individual products allows further savings. The appropriate measurement technology, which can be used to determine the intensity per unit area during the drying process, also offers savings potential.

In this session, current practical examples will be presented. In addition, the opportunities and risks of a changeover to LED UV will be highlighted and discussed.

eta plus is a company of the IST METZ Group, the market leader in industrial UV technology. The UV and excimer lamps and electronic ballasts are used worldwide in printing presses of all renowned manufacturers for ink and coating drying, matting or cleaning. For the growth market of UV water treatment, eta plus develops and manufactures novel lamp systems for municipal drinking water disinfection plants, for industrial water treatment and for ballast water treatment on ships.

The HANDcure is typically used in the area of crosslinking and detection.

UV curing adhesives and resins are increasingly used in complex assembly and manufacturing solutions where controlled curing and instant handling strength are essential. Based on battery-powered electric tools from Nürtingen-based specialist Metabo, IST has developed the HANDcure. The device has a spectral range of 365 nm to 415 nm and weighs 1.0 kg in its basic version. This ensures fatigue-free work in a wide range of applications.

Live demo of SMART repair solutions at the UV Technlogy Campus