Taking the Guesswork Out of UV Curing · Amir Dekel ·
Is the problem the ink?
The lamp?
The reflector?
The press speed?
For printers using UV curing, finding the answer can sometimes involve more guesswork than anyone would like.
At Loupe Americas in Chicago, Wayne Beckett meets Amir Dekel from GEW to talk about DoseGuard — technology designed to put measurable data behind UV performance.
The concept is straightforward.
A UV or LED cassette can be tested and, within seconds, DoseGuard can show whether it is producing the output it should. Instead of replacing components simply because they have reached a predetermined number of operating hours, printers can make maintenance decisions based on actual performance.
That can have a direct impact on cost.
A lamp scheduled for replacement after 1,000 hours may still have useful life remaining. Reflectors that appear worn may still be performing correctly. Equally, a component that looks fine may already be reducing curing performance.
DoseGuard provides the data needed to know the difference.
GEW says the system can identify UV lamp ageing and the effect of reflector and quartz-window condition, helping printers reduce rejects and make better maintenance decisions.
And the conversation naturally moves toward LED.
LED UV offers significant advantages in areas including energy consumption, component life, and maintenance, but Amir believes one of the biggest barriers to faster adoption isn’t necessarily technical.
It’s familiarity.
Printers have often worked with conventional UV for decades, and changing something that has reliably produced work for years can be as much an emotional decision as a technical one.
But that transition is happening.
According to Amir, GEW is now producing more LED cassettes than conventional ones, suggesting that the balance is steadily moving toward LED as more printers experience the technology firsthand.
In this INKISH film, Wayne talks with Amir Dekel about DoseGuard, UV measurement, consumable life, maintenance, LED adoption, and why measurable curing data can remove one more uncertainty from the production process.
Because sometimes the most valuable answer isn’t that something needs replacing.
It’s knowing that it doesn’t.
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Fri September 18th
Building a Bigger Future Around Hybrid Printi...
Vinsak is becoming much more than Vinsak. At LOUPE Americas in Chicago, Pat McGrew catches up with Ranesh Bajaj to talk about the expanding Vinsak Group — including Rotatek, new technologies, new markets, and a much stronger push into North America. One of the technologies attracting attention is the Rotatek Universal 850. The 850 mm platform has been developed for packaging applications and combines technologies such as offset and flexo in a highly configurable architecture. Rotatek itself describes customization as a core part of its philosophy, with presses designed around individual customer requirements rather than a single fixed configuration. And that fits perfectly with Ranesh's view of hybrid printing. Why force one printing technology to do everything? Offset can deliver extremely strong graphics and CMYK reproduction. Flexo can add whites, coatings, and other functional layers. Gravure can bring metallic effects, lacquers, and specialist applications. Put the technologies together in the right configuration, and the press can be engineered around the product rather than forcing the product around the press. In-mold labels are another major focus. Vinsak and Rotatek see strong opportunities in IML as brands look for durable decoration, lower production costs, and packaging structures that can perform across applications ranging from food and household products to containers exposed to moisture and freezing conditions. The Universal platform is already being positioned across applications including in-mold labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and other packaging segments. But perhaps the bigger story is geographical. Vinsak already has a strong presence across India, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. North America is now becoming a major strategic focus. Ranesh explains that the company is building its own US organization, including service infrastructure, and expects to significantly expand the North American team. An important first step is already underway, with a large 12-unit, 34-inch press destined for a customer in the Philadelphia region. That local presence matters. Selling sophisticated, custom-engineered printing equipment into the US isn't simply about shipping a press from overseas. Customers need service, parts, technical expertise, and confidence that support will be available long after installation. And that is exactly what Vinsak intends to build. In this INKISH film, Pat talks with Ranesh Bajaj about the expanding Vinsak Group, Rotatek, hybrid production, in-mold labels, sustainability, custom engineering, and why North America is becoming an increasingly important part of the group's future. Because sometimes differentiation doesn't come from choosing between offset, flexo, or gravure. It comes from combining them.