HUV Ink and Map Printing — What’s the Big Deal?

MapPrinter.com
Jul 21, 2017 · 2 min read

Before the arrival of HUV ink to the map-printing scene, printers encountered a number or challenges to producing quality maps. Marking from tacky inks on impression cylinders; rough, spray powder-coated printed sheets in need of attention; dull imagery results on coated papers. Each of these issues resulting in added processes, time, labor, and energy use in order to produce superior, finished map results. However these issues are now easily managed with the addition of Komori’s latest hybrid UV print system, a method that is faster, less labor intensive, and more environmentally friendly than its predecessors.

What Exactly is HUV Ink?

Highly-reactive ultraviolet ink (HUV) is more sensitive to light, requiring fewer lamps, less light, minimal exposure time and dramatically reduced energy use to achieve curing. Environmentally friendly, HUV ink bests the previously frowned-upon UV ink process. Unlike its UV predecessors, which generated heat and ozone while consuming far larger amounts of energy to print, newer HUV methods make optimal use of ink and energy to achieve results never before possible. Now the performance benefits of UV ink can be realized with far less energy use, 75% less CO2 emissions, and no noxious ozone fumes (O3) or VOCs for a clean, green earth and printing environment for the print shop team and its partners/customers.

Dramatic Results

HUV ink delivers amazingly vibrant color results on both gloss, matte, and uncoated stock, drying faster than oil-based inks (and its UV predecessors). The far faster drying process of HUV ink curing greatly speeds turnaround times, with a single HUV lamp curing up to 400% ink coverage and coatings at maximum press speed. And because HUV requires no spray powder, it eliminates a host of common printing issues, greatly simplifying the post-printing finishing process. Never before possible, powderless, printed sheets are immediately dry (even on uncoated paper), premium inline gloss finishes produced with HUV are unrivaled, and all substrates retain their original textures, allowing for a smooth, printed surface and highly efficient surface processing post-press.

At MapPrinter, we go far beyond printing on recycled or sustainably sourced paper to offer the most high-quality, environmentally friendly printed maps on the market. Investing in HUV ink and equipment pays huge dividends — not just for our business — but for the future. Please join us in partnership, as we seek to establish a more perfect path to print quality and environmental sustainability. Contact MapPrinter today.

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