Infrared Drying for Printing Inks & Varnishes
Infrared and UV lamps that dry inks and varnishes at press speed.
Drying at press speed
Printing presses run fast and leave very little space for drying. Infrared emitters fit into compact dryer units between and after print units, heat the ink film and the paper or board surface within fractions of a second, and switch off instantly when the press stops, which protects the substrate.
- Faster setting and drying, less set-off and smearing
- Instant on/off with shortwave and carbon emitters
- Compact dryer units for retrofit into existing presses
- Power adjustable to ink coverage, substrate and speed
Which process uses which lamp
Shortwave emitters are common in offset and sheet-fed presses because their high power density and fast response suit high speeds. Carbon and medium wave emitters are absorbed well by water, which makes them efficient for water-based inks, coatings and varnishes in flexo and gravure printing. UV-curing inks and varnishes do not dry with heat at all: they cure in a fraction of a second under UV lamps.
Screen printing and textiles
Screen-printed inks on textiles, glass and electronics are often flashed or cured with infrared panels or medium wave emitters. Plastisol inks need to reach a defined cure temperature through the ink layer, which ceramic and medium wave emitters do evenly.
Which infrared heater fits?
| Heater type | Wavelength & response | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Shortwave quartz (IR-A) | Peak about 1.0–1.4 µm, full power in 1–2 s | Offset and sheet-fed presses, high speeds, oxidative inks |
| Carbon / fast medium wave | Peak about 2 µm, full power in 1–2 s | Water-based inks and coatings with fast on/off |
| Medium wave quartz (IR-B) | Peak about 2.4–2.8 µm, full power in about a minute | Water-based inks, flexo and gravure, screen printing |
| UV lamps (mercury vapour) | UV-A to UV-C, about 200–400 nm | UV-curing inks, varnishes and coatings |
Wavelengths are typical values for each emitter type.
Recommended products
Frequently asked questions
What kind of infrared lamp is used for drying offset printing ink?
Shortwave quartz infrared emitters, often twin-tube emitters with a gold reflector, because they deliver high power in a small space and respond within a second or two.
Can infrared dry water-based inks?
Yes. Carbon and medium wave emitters are particularly effective because water absorbs strongly at the wavelengths they emit.
What is the difference between IR drying and UV curing?
Infrared drying uses heat to evaporate water or solvents or to speed up oxidation. UV curing uses ultraviolet light to trigger a chemical reaction in special UV inks, which harden almost instantly without heat-based drying.
Can you supply replacement lamps for my press dryer?
Yes. Send us the lamp dimensions, wattage and voltage or the dryer model and we will match the lamp.
Related
Other applications
Tell us about your process
Share the material, line speed and the heater or lamp you use today. Our engineers in Chennai will recommend the right infrared solution.
