t: (+44) 01954 232023
High-performance digital printing depends on more than the printhead and ink. Substrate preparation, surface treatment, curing and drying are integral to achieving consistent print quality, reliable adhesion, production efficiency and long-term process stability.
IIJ provides a comprehensive range of peripheral technologies to support the complete digital inkjet process. Our solutions include pre-treatments: plasma, corona and flame treatments as well as primers. UV LED curing, NIR and CIR drying are available. with technologies from established industry partners including Phoseon, GEW and Heraeus.
Solutions can be configured for new digital printing systems or integrated into existing production lines, with equipment selected according to the application, substrate, ink technology and production requirements.
Corona Treatment.
Corona treatment is an established technology for increasing the surface energy and printability of polymeric and other non-porous substrates. Corona treatment modifies the surface through a controlled electrical discharge, improving the interaction between the substrate and ink.
· Substrate composition and surface characteristics
· Ink chemistry
· Treatment power and energy density
· Line speed
· Electrode configuration and gap
· Substrate condition
· Time between treatment and printin
Plasma Treatment
Plasma treatment provides a precise and controllable method of modifying substrate surface characteristics to improve ink wetting and adhesion. It is particularly effective for materials with low surface energy, including polymeric films, plastics and other non-porous substrates.
· Improved surface wettability
· Enhanced ink adhesion
· Improved print consistency
· Treatment of difficult-to-print materials
· Integration into inline production processes
· Controlled and repeatable surface activation
Sura-Flame.
Sura-Flame provides controlled flame treatment for surface activation prior to digital printing. Flame treatment can increase surface energy and improve ink wetting and adhesion on substrates that may otherwise be difficult to print.
Systems can be configured for inline integration and matched to the substrate, treatment width and production speed, providing a practical surface-treatment solution for industrial printing applications.
Pretreatment & Surface Modification.
Surface preparation is a key consideration when printing onto low-surface-energy, non-porous or otherwise challenging substrates. Appropriate pretreatment modifies the substrate surface to achieve the required wettability, ink interaction and adhesion. This provides a stable foundation for consistent ink deposition and print quality.
· Application-specific surface modification technology
· Plasma treatment
· Corona treatment
· Flame treatment
IIJ can support the evaluation and selection of surface-treatment technologies including:
Colour Management.
Colour management ensures that colours remain consistent, accurate and predictable when printing digital inkjet inks onto a wide variety of substrates (such as paper, vinyl, textiles, glass or plastic).
Because every material absorbs, reflects and interacts with ink differently, a standardised colour management work flow is essential to bridge the gap between what you see on screen and what you physically see on the material. The team at IIJ tests to ensure we print the colour you are looking for and that the colour is represented across your material types.
UV LED Curing Technology.
Controlled Curing for UV Inkjet
For UV-curable inkjet systems, curing is a critical component of the overall printing process. The relationship between UV wavelength, irradiance, energy dose, exposure time and curing position must be carefully controlled to achieve the required ink performance at production speed. IIJ provides UV and UV LED curing solutions for a wide range of digital printing applications.
Solutions can be configured for:
· Pinning
· Final curing
· High-speed production
· Heat-sensitive substrates
· Web, sheet-fed and 3D applications
UV LED technology provides high-performance curing solutions for digital printing and industrial inkjet applications. Systems can be configured according to the application requirements, including wavelength, irradiance, curing width, working distance and UV dose. This enables UV LED curing to be integrated effectively into applications requiring controlled pinning, intermediate curing or final cure.
Solutions can be configured to meet the requirements of the complete printing process, including ink chemistry, curing width, production speed, substrate and system configuration. Systems are available for a range of industrial applications, including high-speed digital printing.
Key Benefits Include:
· Precise control of curing conditions
· High energy efficiency
· Reduced thermal impact on substrates
· Long operating life
· Instant on/off operation
· Compact system configuration
· Low maintenance requirements
NIR & CIR Drying.
Drying is a critical process step for water-based and other liquid ink technologies. Effective moisture removal is essential for achieving the required print quality, handling characteristics, production speed and process stability. IIJ advices and specifies NIR and CIR drying technologies designed to deliver controlled and efficient drying for industrial digital inkjet applications.
Drying solutions can be configured according to:
· Ink chemistry
· Substrate characteristics
· Ink laydown
· Print speed
· Required residual moisture
· Available installation space
· Substrate temperature limitations
Carbon Infrared Technology (CIR).
Carbon Infrared (CIR) drying uses carbon filament infrared emitters to deliver controlled infrared energy across a broad wavelength range. The technology provides efficient energy transfer to the printed material, accelerating evaporation and supporting high-speed drying applications
Key benefits include:
· Efficient moisture removal
· High drying rates
· Compact system design
· Rapid response to power changes
· Precise control of drying conditions
· Reduced dependence on heated air
· Suitability for continuous production
Other Peripherals In Mind?
Our technical expertise enables peripheral technologies to be evaluated and configured as part of the complete digital printing system. Get in contact today to learn more.
Near Infrared Technology (NIR).
Near Infrared technology provides rapid energy transfer to the printed substrate, accelerating the removal of moisture and volatile components.
NIR drying can provide a compact and responsive solution for high-speed digital printing applications, with the drying system configured according to the substrate, ink load and production requirements.
Key benefits include:
· High drying rates
· Better substrate temperature control
· Compact drying systems
· Improved print quality at higher speeds
· Rapid response