UV LED curing solutions for every application
GEW will introduce several new technology advancements at Labelexpo Europe in Barcelona, this September. We will highlight our air-cooled AeroLED2 UV LED curing system, which was launched at Labelexpo Americas in 2024, alongside our highest power, water-cooled LeoLED2 system. Both will be featured at a major European exhibition for the first time since their launch.
AeroLED2 is GEW’s next generation UV LED system for full cure, printing, coating and converting applications up to 70cm wide. It delivers electrical power of 70W/cm, UV dose of 170mJ/cm² and UV irradiance of 26W/cm². LeoLED2 is GEW’s water-cooled option, which takes LED performance to a new level: it delivers electrical power of up to 140W/cm, UV dose of 300mJ/cm² and UV irradiance of 44W/cm².
Both models are ArcLED compatible, meaning that they can easily be interchanged with GEW’s Arc lamp systems. GEW’s Arc and LED cassettes are compatible with the same power supply and fit in the same housing, for ultimate press flexibility.
OxyGuard
We will also launch OxyGuard at Labelexpo. OxyGuard is our next generation oxygen control system, which uses state-of-the-art technology to rapidly achieve and maintain the optimal curing atmosphere for low odour, low migration production, siliconisation and other high performance curing applications.
Ambient oxygen reduces the effectiveness of UV curing in many inks and coatings. The OxyGuard system can be used to overcome this, by controlling oxygen at the point of curing, exactly where the ink or coating is exposed to UV light. Inert gas is used to purge the curing chamber of oxygen and maintain a target oxygen level during production runs.
OxyGuard features closed loop control, which automatically maintains this oxygen level to a customer set point (measured in parts per million), and ensures this set point is not exceeded. The OxyGuard system adapts the input of inert gas accordingly, regardless of machine running speed. Throughout the process, gas consumption is optimised for maximum efficiency.
OxyGuard can be retrofitted on existing nitrogen systems and is compatible with all GEW curing lamps, whether UV Arc or LED. It is fully customisable to any number of configurations, making it suitable for a broad range of demanding applications… including coating and converting, silicone release and low migration work, excimer mattification and wood finishing.
DoseGuard
The third innovation is DoseGuard, which will also be launched at Labelexpo. DoseGuard, powered by ICAD® technology, delivers inline UV monitoring and automatic UV dose control. It consists of a scanning optic (ICAD unit) which is mounted underneath each of the lampheads on a UV system, whether conventional UV Arc or UV LED. DoseGuard continuously measures the UV light that reaches the substrate, across the entire width of the system, and will issue a warning if the level of UV output delivered to the substrate changes during production, for any reason.
DoseGuard also greatly improves the UV curing process by automatically adjusting the power of the UV lamps to maintain a target UV dose, independent of speed or UV lamp condition, even for multiple lamps on a single print or coating station. This ensures that product is cured to exactly the correct level, every time. Operational data can be exported so that compliance documents or certificates can be generated by the customer.
Further, DoseGuard assists in the reduction of energy and maintenance costs, by ensuring that only the exact power required is used to achieve good quality product, by automatically optimising the lamp power to deliver the desired UV dose. This feature also increases lamp lifetimes and enables bulbs and reflectors to be used for longer.
Summary
Robert Rae, Managing Director at GEW, comments: “With AeroLED2 already dominating new installations in the label and narrow web market, and the launch of our two new precision control systems, OxyGuard and DoseGuard, we are super-excited to get underway at Labelexpo. We already have the highest performing, most reliable LED systems in the market. Combining these with GEW’s new control platforms will enable our customers to achieve a level of curing process reliability like never before.” He concludes: “We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stand, and having the opportunity to highlight these exciting innovations to a global audience.”