UV and LED UV curing systems have revolutionized wood and flooring applications, offering efficient and eco-friendly solutions for enhancing durability and aesthetic appeal. By utilizing UV (ultraviolet) and LED (light-emitting diode)-UV radiation, these curing systems facilitate rapid curing processes with minimal heat generation, ensuring superior surface treatment for wood materials and floor coverings.
From partial curing and pinning to pre-gelling, matting, and final curing, UV and LED UV systems provide versatile options tailored to specific application requirements. These advanced technologies not only accelerate production cycles but also contribute to the development of scratch-resistant surfaces, bolstering the longevity and quality of finished wood products. Transparent UV-curing coatings are used to optimise properties such as stain and scratch resistance, non-slip surfaces and easy cleaning of floor coverings. In addition, harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contained in some conventional floor coverings are avoided, which contributes to a healthier indoor climate. UV and LED UV curing are the future of flooring, offering speed, efficiency and sustainability for commercial applications.
Discover the key differences between wood and flooring! While wood offers its unique naturalness and aesthetics, flooring products are usually made of plastic. Whether LVT, PVC or other polymer materials such as SPC, they offer flexibility or dimensional stability. The key advantage of polymer materials lies in their moisture resistance and easier processing by end users compared to wood, which is notoriously more sophisticated.
In wood processing, the demand for resource-saving curing processes is constantly growing. UV curing of varnishes and coatings offers a proven solution here: it works quickly, is energy-efficient and ensures resistant, low-emission surfaces.
Our specialists have been working on the further development of UV systems for many years, focusing on ecological aspects – even before issues such as energy prices and CO₂ reduction became widely discussed. The result is innovative technologies that are sustainable and at the same time meet the highest production requirements. One example is the FREEcure system, developed in collaboration with BASF, which can significantly reduce energy consumption and is becoming increasingly established in the wood and wood-based materials industry.
Particularly in the case of 100% UV systems in high-speed rolling lines in furniture production, it is worthwhile reducing the proportion of photoinitiators (to around a quarter to a third). This allows the desired production speed to be achieved with fewer UV units – with a clear focus on energy savings. With FREEcure, production speeds of 30 to 50 m/min per unit can be achieved, meaning that in many cases only two to three units are required. For special applications, it also makes sense to combine this with LED UV technologies in order to reliably cure thicker layers.
Rely on future-oriented UV curing that combines sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the wood industry.
