UV Drying Lamps
UV drying lamps (or UV curing lamps) are a very important component of the production process in many industries around the globe. Industrial applications of UV drying lamps include:
Automakers
Automakers use UV drying lamps for curing polymers such as specialty resins, inks and varnishes. When certain polymers are exposed to UV wavelengths, a photochemical process referred to as cross linking occurs producing a hardened and strengthened finish. This process is used to create hardened gloss surfaces on visible interior parts, or to strengthen plastic parts used in certain assemblies.
UV curing gives automakers a big time saving advantage, as most products treated with UV radiation are cured and touchable within two minutes of time. This keeps the assembly line moving, with no bottleneck occurring at a treating station.
The Printing Industry
UV curing of inks is being used instead of solvent based inks in the printing industry, with great benefits. While solvent inks shrink when drying and evaporate into the air, UV drying lamps provide a consistent clean and crisp finish for various products including glossy postcards, magnets, calendars and even plastic or wood products.
Packing Companies
Corrugated manufacturers realize the benefit of utilizing UV curing to instantly dry the ink on their packaging products. This provides a clean crisp vibrant print color, and dries much faster and more consistently that infrared heat drying. Increased output equals increased profitability.
Flooring
UV light is used to cure concrete, vinyl, and tiles to improve stain resistance and increase the durability of the flooring product. This process is extremely effective with no toxic odor from chemical treatment, and allows for immediate occupation making it possible to walk on the floor within minutes of treating.
Other Applications of UV Lighting
UV lamps are also used in various disinfection and purification systems, providing high performance with no use of chemicals. Here are some examples:
UV Sterilization of Medication Equipment
Ultraviolet germicidal treatment of medical equipment includes treating test strips, dialysis machines, syringes, hearing aids, and various other medical devices requiring sterilization.
Air Purification with UV Treatment
Many settings where clean air is critical such as hospitals utilize UV air purification systems to effectively remove harmful contaminants in the air, making it easier to breathe for some people and reducing the likelihood of transmitting bacteria through airborne illnesses.
Water Treatment with UV Based Solutions
UV water treatment systems have long been utilized as a safe and effective method of providing clean drinking water in public water treatment plants. UV lamps also provide a safe and very effective method of eradicating harmful microorganisms in ships ballast water.
LightSources Provides UV Lamps for All Applications
LightSources, and our European Partner, LightTech, are global leaders in developing and manufacturing UV lamps with proprietary technology, providing an efficient and cost-effective solution for a multitude of industrial applications.
Low Pressure Mercury Lamp
There are different types of UV lamps for different applications. The most common type of a UV germicidal bulb is our low-pressure mercury lamp. This lamp is filled with a small amount of mercury, and either Argon gas or a mixture of gases such as Neon, Krypton or Xenon, providing a specific UV wavelength for your requirement. Most UV germicidal applications require an effective germicidal wavelength at 254 nm (nanometer), while some applications call for a different exact wavelength for a specific application.
Some benefits of the LP mercury lamp include various options in either standard or high-output quartz lamps, standard or high-output soft glass compact lamps. Our softglass lamps can operate on lower currents while maintaining high germicidal efficiency, and all of our LP mercury lamps have exceptionally high performance throughout a long-lasting life of up to 13,000 hours.
Low Pressure Amalgam Lamps
Low pressure amalgam lamps can yield three times the output of UVC compared to other similar lamps. LightSources has developed patented LongLife™ pellet amalgam technology, which provides greater UVC intensity even in dimming mode, providing cost savings in energy efficiency. Our LP amalgam lamps provide superior efficiency over a long life of up to 16,000 hours.
Our low pressure amalgam lamps are often used in water and air purification, sterilization procedures, and disinfection applications within the medical industry. Our amalgam lamps are an important part of water treatment systems for ships ballast water, providing an effective solution to shipping companies’ requirement of compliance to the Ballast Water Treatment Convention.
Medium Pressure Ultraviolet Lamps (MPUV)
Medium pressure UV lamps have long been used to instantly cure inks, varnishes and coatings. Over the last decade improvements in technology in MPUV lamps have expanded use into water and air purification and disinfection applications, and to irradiate energy such as visible light, at various wavelengths.
LightSources provides MPUV lamps in various standard sizes, or our expert engineers can custom design a system just for your needs. MPUV lamps are popular for ship ballast water treatment systems as they carry a small footprint.
Value Added Services
The LightSources Group includes partners around the globe, providing innovative solutions for various OEM applications with quick turn around and patented technology. LightTech utilizes a specialty glass manufacturing facility in Hungary, where custom products can be designed for your engineering requirements. Strategic partners like Cerlux provide custom ceramic bases and fittings, Voltarc is a world leader in specialty neon and fluorescent signs and LCD Lighting specializes in backlighting for avionic display applications, and miniature high performance lighting applications.
LightSources and its affiliated companies – LCD Lighting, Voltarc, LightTech, and Cerlux represent the leading high-tech designers and manufacturers in the lamp industry today. Our standard lamps and components as well as customized products offer high-quality solutions to meet our partner’s unique needs. We invite you to contact us to learn more about our wide selection of lamps.
