What is UV printing?
Unlike conventional offset printing, where ink must be absorbed into the paper and dried, in UV technology inks are cured instantaneously (polymerised) by ultraviolet radiation from UV lamps mounted in the press.
This means that sheets leaving the press are 100% dry and immediately ready for further finishing operations. There is no risk of ink set-off, and colours are exceptionally saturated and resistant to fading and mechanical damage.
What can we print on?
This is the greatest advantage of this technology. Since the ink does not need to be absorbed, we can print on virtually any substrate, even completely smooth and non-absorbent ones. Our specialities include:
- Metallised substrates — ideal for luxury packaging.
- Plastics — PP (polypropylene), PET, PVC films.
- Heavy substrates — we print on rigid board up to 0.8 mm thick.
Embellishments and hybrid varnishes (Drip-off)
UV technology enables special effects to be applied inline (in a single pass through the press). One of the most sought-after solutions is hybrid varnishing, known as drip-off.
This involves applying a special matt varnish and then selectively applying a high-gloss UV varnish. The result? A fascinating contrast between deep matt and mirror gloss (or an orange-peel texture) that not only looks stunning but is also tactile.
Our machine park: Heidelberg XL 8+varnish
Our powerful B2-format press (750×610 mm) is a true production workhorse. The configuration of 8 printing units + varnishing tower gives us enormous flexibility:
- Multicolour printing with the application of opaque white (essential for transparent or metallised substrates).
- Simultaneous application of UV, hybrid or conventional varnishes.
- No drying required, enabling complex projects to be completed in significantly less time.
UV printing in Porąbka near Bielsko-Biała — premium packaging and non-absorbent substrates
UV technology revolutionises printing possibilities, allowing printing on substrates that are inaccessible to conventional water-based offset. DTL offers UV printing from Porąbka near Bielsko-Biała for customers throughout Poland, specialising in premium packaging, film labels and products requiring exceptional print aesthetics.
UV inks cure instantaneously under UV radiation, making the print resistant to abrasion, scratching and moisture as soon as it leaves the press. This eliminates the risk of colour contamination during subsequent processing (lamination, die-cutting, gluing).
At DTL, we combine UV printing with dispersion varnish, selective UV varnish (Spot UV) and the Drip-off technique — a gloss-matte contrast effect that gives packaging a luxurious, tactile character. This is particularly valued by manufacturers of cosmetics, perfumes, jewellery and premium spirits.
Selective UV varnish and Drip-off — finishes for the demanding
Spot UV is a technique in which a layer of gloss UV varnish is applied only to selected areas of the design (logo, illustration, title), while the background remains matt. The visual and tactile effect is immediately apparent — the product becomes premium at first glance and touch.
Drip-off (the so-called "honeycomb effect") goes even further — the subtle repulsion between dispersion and UV varnish creates a delicate surface texture, unique to each sheet. If your product needs to stand out on the shop shelf, UV printing with Drip-off finishing is an investment that pays for itself.