Amid the rapid development of the printing industry, intaglio printing, as one of the four major printing methods, holds an important position in various fields such as packaging and publishing due to its unique advantages. Recently, with the integration of new technologies like UV curing, this traditional process is undergoing dual upgrades in environmental protection and efficiency.
Intaglio printing achieves printing by transferring ink from the recessed image-text areas to the substrate, with the prominent feature that the image-text parts of the printing plate are recessed while the blank parts are flush. The technology boasts remarkable advantages: it delivers thick ink layers with vivid colors, accurately presenting metallic colors, gradient effects and subtle details. The printing plate has an extremely high printing durability, suitable for mass production of millions of impressions. Meanwhile, it can print on various materials such as paper, plastic films and metal foils, offering a wide range of applications.
In terms of application areas, intaglio printing is a mainstay in flexible packaging printing, widely used in food bags, beverage labels, daily chemical and pharmaceutical packaging. High-end cigarette packs, wine labels and other paper packaging products also often adopt this technology to enhance texture. Additionally, it is applied in magazine printing, decorative materials like wood-grain paper, as well as anti-counterfeiting printing of valuable securities such as banknotes and stamps. The raised feel of the main patterns on RMB is derived from intaglio printing.
However, traditional intaglio printing faces issues such as high plate-making costs, long cycles and environmental pressures from solvent-based inks. Today, the application of UV curing technology has effectively addressed these challenges. By using ultraviolet light to irradiate ink and trigger polymerization reactions, the technology can complete curing within seconds. It is not only environmentally friendly without volatile solvents but also improves the wear resistance and gloss of printed products. The water-based LED curing technology further reduces VOCs emissions on this basis, meeting the strict environmental requirements for food and pharmaceutical packaging.
With the improvement of the automation level of printing equipment, the application of UV inks in intaglio printing has become increasingly mature, injecting new vitality into the industry. In the future, intaglio printing will continue to develop in the direction of high efficiency, environmental protection and precision, providing better printing solutions for various industries.
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