Roland's investigation revealed that ultraviolet light opened the door
Roland's investigation revealed that ultraviolet light opened the door
A new pan-European study by Roland DG shows that UV printing is most often done on plastics, but the breadth of materials used is increasing.
The study surveyed 250 printing shops in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain and found that three-quarters of the respondents had printed on plastic in the past. But more than half of people print UV on wood (64%), PVC (62%) and metal (54%).
These four materials are also the "largest growers" and the most frequently used materials in 2020. In terms of growth, less than one-fifth (18%) of respondents said that demand for PVC increased, demand for plastics increased by 17%, demand for wood increased by 14%, and demand for metals increased by 9%. In terms of frequency of use, two-thirds of the respondents said that they print on plastic at least once a week, followed by PVC (40%), metal (26%) and wood (25%).
Stephen Davis, Roland DG's EMEA marketing director, explained: "We conducted this research to understand how ultraviolet light changes the landscape and opens up a new set of materials for printing and personalization." "The data shows that UV technology is used as a Companies that are part of their overall products expect their business opportunities to increase steadily."
The research also revealed other non-traditional materials that may be surprisingly high in demand.More than a quarter (28%) of respondents print glass at least once a month, almost to artificial leather or artificial leather (24%). Less than one-fifth goes to ceramics (17%) and 15% goes to slate. According to reports, some of the most unusual items used by UV printers include a pair of wooden sand balls, an aluminum radiator, and a thermometer made of glass and wax.
Even the most unpopular materials in the survey showed the flexibility of UV printing, with 1% of respondents using this process to print on concrete, and 6% of respondents printing on cork or silicone.
Mr. David concluded: “UV printing enables companies all over the world to use a variety of materials, including strange and wonderful objects.” “Investing in a UV printer opens up a new world of potential possibilities for your customers. It also provides opportunities for you and your team to experiment and innovate."
