IML Labels upgrades to UV LED with AMS

The contract for the AMS LED system for IML Labels was concluded at drupa 2016, and is the first of multiple machines that are planned to be converted from UV to LED curing in the coming months at IML Labels facilities around the world.

Donald Caron, vice president of IML Labels, said: ‘AMS UV LED is a perfect fit for us. Our main goal is to reduce the heat that is involved in the printing of very thin polypropylene film. Currently we have to run with a minimum number of conventional UV lamps just to keep the heat low and avoid distortion of the film, but it slows the process because of the amount of energy needed to maintain a good cure.

‘By going with LED, we expect to remove virtually all the heat from the process, and we can increase our production speeds upwards of 50 percent because of the faster curing available from UV LED. Add to that, we can reduce our energy consumption by over 75 percent. I have been looking closely at UV LED since Labelexpo last year, and am confident we have found the right partner in AMS, who have established themselves as the clear market leader in high-power UV LED systems.’

AMS CEO Steve Metcalf added: ‘With virtually no heat being emitted into the press or into the substrate and the extremely high intensities that are achievable with a single AMS XP Series UV LED module, LED curing is poised to change the face of this industry. We are very excited to work with IML Labels as the first adopter of this new process in North America.’