UV Printing
Ready towiden the activities

This year, the interests on UV market became hotter and more special. It is because various machines were shown to the market and people think that market survey was carried enough for the market. We can see in this article why, where, how UV printers are used.

SHOPS ABOUT UV PRINTERS

Recently, there is a huge demand on UV printers in Korea. Years ago, not many people knew what UV printer was. Most people think that UV printer is only for big companies. But, this year, the concept was changed. We could see some sales of UV printers. What is the reason that UV printer got interests from people? I can say it is because of price and timing. It's been 3-4 years since UV printer was introduced to Korea market. It was enough time for shops to measure if the machine could fit to the market or not. so the period was the time to seek how to apply for the market, what is good and bad, and how to do to get the best result. Now it is the time to setup a plan carefully to purchase UV printer and jump to the market after those period. But, unfortunately, the result was not good. There were some major companies who bought UV printers but nobody got big hits with the machine. Some people pointed the reason that they put too much expectation on the UV printer. Shops highly expected the feature that any materials can be applied for UV printer but they couldn't expend the market. No market brought no attention. Even though they tried to interior industry but high price and unstable adhesive strength didn't meet the clients' satisfaction. But, they've got positive feedback from clients after the inks were improved and the trend of well-being and customized interior were dominant. Finally, they got rewards from their hard trial.

Wide price range helps to extend the market

Price decrease, previously over millions, even billions USD, helped to widen the UV printer market. It means that customers can choose various options according to their purpose. Lots of products pricing around USD 100,000 have been introduced and even lower priced products came to the market. As a matter of fact, there were lots of small companies to buy UV printers more than big companies who bought the machine. Not only various types of machines, but also customers can choose features that fits to their business type such as roll only, both of roll and flatbed, flatbed only or speed, resolution, ink color and so on. Generally, roll type machines, including turbo type, were taken by those who produce massive advertisement. Flatbed type was for industrial purpose and hybrid type(roll and flatbed) was considered mainly for outdoor media.

Market led by interior design is extending to advertisement

We can apply UV printer to three area roughly. First is for industrial purpose, second is for interior design and construction market, and third is for sign market. Not likely Europe, Korea rather uses UV printer for industrial or interior design purpose. Industrial purpose overlaps to interior market but mostly, its target is for massive ready-made market such as electronics, furniture, etc. Still shops are doing field tests rather than actual use in real work place. Secondly, it is really huge and there are indefinite materials and products in interior market. It is the market to jump in for many companies who are having hard time in sign market. UV printer meets the demand to provide various kinds of products and small production. Like banner, it is also possible for wallpaper to be customized and can be applied to tile, glasses and frame and so on. There is also an movement to make as a ready-made even it is not the production stage yet. Thirdly, it is to change the way to produce or extend the product's range. Until now, most of shops produce their prints on soft material and attach it to hard material like formboard. UV printer can work simply by printing to the material directly. Tour map and POP are the case. Especially, there is no preference on material on outdoor media so people expect that UV printer can generate new advertisement creative. UV printer also can move to silk screen printing. Wayfinding signs on the street used to be printed on silk and then to the signs. But UV printer can print directly on the media.

Analyzing before buying

As mentioned earlier, UV printer is still seeking markets to extend its area. There are still problems to solve. Even interior design market that people think it very positive area is hard to enter because there are many materials that are hard to handle such as glass, wood. In case of glass, it takes high cost to buy and it is burden to process because it can't be adjusted after printing work. Also people have to think about logistics. Not like sign industry, people who want to move to interior market, they have to consider to get experts on that business. When thinking to buy UV printer, price is not a matter to consider. If the purpose doesn't match to the application, even high price UV printer must be useless. Therefore, if you are thinking to buy UV printer, focus on where to apply and search UV printer to fit your business purpose. It is recommended to match with other systems such as laminating or cutting system.