Market coordination and the adoption of UV LED curing

The application of UV LEDs (light emitting diodes) in the adhesives, inks and coatings markets is discussed. One of the most significant forces driving rapid adoption of UV LEDs for adhesives is the nature of the supply chain. UV LEDs are being adopted by a few prominent suppliers of both inks and printing equipment, and so the use of LEDs has started to grow throughout the market segment. The emergence of wide format, industrial digital ink jet technology using advanced piezoelectric print heads on static and moving carriages is a perfect application for UV LEDs. The LED is more compact, has fewer accessories and its low heat profile is a perfect match of inkjet printing. The coatings market has always presented the greatest challenges even for well-established UV systems and chemistry. UV coatings have emerged victorious in those instances, where the product requires a particularly durable finish, such as hardwood flooring, eyeglass lenses, or optical fiber coatings.