For Australian print businesses looking beyond traditional signage, UV printing is fast becoming one of the industry's biggest growth opportunities. And according to Mimaki, that momentum is only building.
According to Jason Hay, national sales manager at Mimaki Australia, demand for UV technology has accelerated over the past decade as print service providers seek faster production, greater application flexibility and access to higher-value markets.
“UV printing has experienced significant growth over the past decade as print service providers look to diversify beyond traditional signage and graphics applications,” he tells Print21.
“While eco-solvent technology remains the largest installed base globally, many businesses are now complementing those platforms with UV technology to access new revenue opportunities.”
In terms of UV’s biggest advantages, Hay points to workflow efficiency, as its instant curing capability allows jobs to move immediately to finishing, shipping or installation – reducing production bottlenecks and improving turnaround times.
At the same time, according to Hay, customer demand is shifting towards short-run production, product personalisation, direct-to-object printing, packaging prototypes, interior décor and industrial applications.
“Customers are seeking greater production flexibility, shorter runs and the ability to print onto a broader range of materials without specialised processes,” he explains.
“As businesses continue to focus on productivity and diversification, UV is increasingly viewed as a complementary technology that can expand capabilities and attracts different revenue streams, rather than replacing existing print platforms.”
Today's UV inks offer wider colour gamuts, improved flexibility and enhanced substrate compatibility, enabling high-quality output on everything from self-adhesive vinyls, sign display substrates, acrylic, metal, glass, timber, packaging materials and even fabrics.
UV also enables premium finishes that are difficult to reproduce with other technologies, including tactile textures, spot gloss, layered graphics, raised effects and braille signage.
Outside of traditional signage, Hay says the strongest growth is now occurring in industrial manufacturing, promotional products, packaging and product customisation.
“The ability to print directly onto three-dimensional objects and a wide variety of materials has opened opportunities well beyond traditional graphics production,” Hay says.
“One example of a particularly fast-growing area is UV-DTF technology. Printers like the Mimaki UJV300DTF-75 enables high-quality decoration of complex or irregularly shaped objects without direct printing onto the final item.
“This has broadened opportunities in sectors such as cosmetics, beverage packaging, electronics, gifts and branded merchandise.”
On the environmental front, performance has improved due to LED curing systems consuming less energy than many conventional curing methods, while current-generation UV inks offer enhanced scratch resistance chemical durability and long-term outdoor performance, which Hay says makes them increasingly attractive for both commercial and industrial applications.
“These advancements are helping make UV a practical solution for businesses seeking both performance and sustainability,” he adds.
For print businesses evaluating new equipment investments, profitability remains a major consideration. While Hay acknowledges eco-solvent continues to offer low operating costs for many graphics producers, UV's strength lies in its versatility.
“The technology enables businesses to produce applications that are difficult or impossible using other platforms, including direct-to-object printing, rigid signage, packaging prototypes, textured graphics and specialty decorative products,” Hay explains.
“Because UV inks cure instantly, jobs can be cut, finished, packed or installed immediately after printing, reducing lead times and improving throughput. In many cases, UV output can also eliminate the need for lamination, further reducing labour and material costs.”
Moving into UV does require new skills, including substrate knowledge, colour management and understanding curing processes.
According to Kohei Kobayashi, managing director of Mimaki Australia, education remains a key part of successful adoption, which is why the company’s approach focuses on helping customers understand not only how to operate the technology, but also how to identify profitable applications and market opportunities.
“The transition to UV printing often involves understanding new substrate behaviours, curing requirements, colour management processes and application opportunities,” Kobayashi tells Print21.
“Companies also need to evaluate how UV production fits within their existing operations, staffing capabilities and customer requirements.
“By way of hosting open day demonstrations, regular training programs and through local support, we aim to help businesses confidently transition into UV production and achieve sustainable long-term growth.”
Looking ahead, Kobayashi expects continued growth across personalised products, industrial printing, packaging and direct-to-object production.
He also believes advances in LED curing and next-generation ink formulations, including lower-VOC and safety-focused chemistries, will continue to strengthen UV's appeal.
“Sustainability, user safety and comfort also remain an important driver. Advances in LED UV curing, offer efficient production processes helping businesses meet both environmental and commercial objectives,” Kobayashi explains.
“Safer ink formulations such as Mimaki’s Green Guard certified, VOC, SVHC and CMT Free advanced ink technology is pioneering user safety.
“Overall, the greatest opportunity lies in UV's ability to enable diversification. While eco-solvent and latex will continue to play a critical role in the sign and graphics sector, the fastest growth opportunities for UV are expected to come from areas where traditional print technologies cannot easily compete.”
Kobayashi concludes by saying that “rather than replacing eco-solvent or latex technologies, UV is increasingly becoming another tool that enables print businesses to diversify, enter new markets and improve profitability as customer expectations continue to evolve”.
