LED Curing: The Newest LED Curing Technology Brings Faster Speeds, Increased Reliability and Substrate Flexibility to Narrow Web Printers

In the March 2026 issue of Label & Narrow Web, Excelitas Marketing Manager Stacy Hoge joins industry experts to discuss the growing role of UV LED curing in label and narrow web printing—particularly for applications involving heat-sensitive substrates such as shrink sleeves and thin films.

Hoge explains that UV LED technology has progressed rapidly in recent years, evolving from an emerging alternative to a widely adopted curing solution across the printing industry. As converters seek higher press speeds, improved reliability and greater substrate flexibility, UV LED curing is increasingly becoming the preferred choice.

“UV LED curing is rapidly becoming the dominant technology in label and narrow web printing, especially in applications that utilize heat-sensitive substrates like shrink sleeves and thin films. The adoption of UV LED technology is accelerating because it delivers lower operating costs, higher reliability, improved sustainability and compatibility with a wide range of substrates. Traditional mercury lamps are still used, but their share is shrinking as converters retrofit older presses or specify LED on new equipment.”

Read the full “LED Curing” feature article in Label & Narrow Web magazine to learn how advances in UV LED curing are delivering higher energy output and enabling press speeds that match or exceed conventional UV curing systems.