EB curing occurs by a similar polymerization process as UV and LED curing, but without the requirement of photoinitiators. Kao Collins embarked on this project after seeing that the prices of beam curing units were approaching those of high-end LED curing units. Without photoinitiators, the inks are safer, less costly, more stable, more reliable, and nearly odorless.
The EB process also offers a more complete cure than UV/LED and does so without generating as much heat as other curing technologies. This opens the door for printing on very thin films and foils. E-beam provides advantages for companies wanting to print low migration labels, packaging for food applications, and other consumer products.
Over the past couple of years, Kao Collins has been formulating and validating e-beam inkjet inks to provide a niche solution to the industrial printing industry that current UV/LED curable inkjet inks do not offer. Concerns regarding material variability, potential migration, print integrity, complete and consistent cure are obsolete with EB technology. After working closely with e-beam equipment manufacturer, PCT, to conduct multiple printing trials, we’ve experienced all of this first hand. The results have been exceptional.
Kao Collins is able to formulate inks that are far superior to anything previously available to the market with other technologies. Kao Collins has an e-beam curing unit mounted to a web transport for in house ink development and testing. We believe that we are the first inkjet ink company to have such a set up, and we encourage customers to take advantage of the opportunity to explore the possibilities of e-beam curing.
