Illert achieves faster print speeds and improved performance with Phoseon Nexus UV LED curing systems

Illert Etiketten, headquartered in Hanau, Germany, has equipped its eight station OMET Varyflex flexographic printing press with Phoseon Nexus ONE™ UV LED curing systems from Excelitas. The press is used to produce shrink sleeves, selfadhesive labels, and 300gram cardboard and wraparound materials.

According to Maximilian Illert, who has been part of the company’s management team since 2011, this level of production flexibility is made possible by flexo printing technology combined with the Nexus UV LED curing systems from Excelitas. When printing shrink sleeves, Illert can now achieve speeds of up to 200 meters per minute, which was previously impossible.

UV LED technology improves performance

According to Jens Grosser, who has served as Production Manager at Illert since 1992, the company prints shrink sleeves using a wide range of materials, including PET film, OPP, PLA, and floatable films. Since installing the new UV LED curing systems, drying issues have completely disappeared. In the past, they frequently encountered problems such as insufficient drying on the roll, but those challenges are now fully resolved.

Grosser explains that the system not only improves drying performance but provides what he considers the most suitable curing method for shrinksleeve production. As for the advantages of the Nexus UV LED curing systems, he highlights two major points: they have not experienced a single malfunction since installation, and maintenance costs have effectively dropped to zero.

UV LED technology is exceptionally wellsuited for shrinksleeve production. It delivers significantly improved curing performance and more consistent sleeve shrinkage. By transitioning to LED inks, Illert has also been able to enter new markets, as the fully completed curing process ensures zero ink migration.

Sustainability

Today’s consumers increasingly prioritize environmentally responsible products—including labels and packaging. Companies that want to retain and attract customers must demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, and Illert sees UV LED as an important step in that direction.

Sustainability has become a central topic across the packaging industry. Maximilian notes that Illert was heavily impacted by the recent energy crisis, at times facing electricity bills approaching fivefigure amounts—a substantial burden. This experience ultimately became one of the decisive reasons the company chose to switch to UV LED technology. The UV LEDsystems from Excelitas delivers substantial energy savings, enhanced reliability, and has eliminated the maintenance and drying challenges Illert experienced with its previous technology.

Excelitas is committed to protecting the environment and continually works to reduce the ecological footprint of the products manufactured. When it comes to UV curing, LED technology stands out as a truly sustainable choice. If maintained properly, UV LED curing technologies can deliver up to 85 percent energy savings compared to traditional UV drying systems.

Designed specifically for flexographic printing applications, the Nexus platform offers one of the industry’s highestperforming UV LED curing solutions. Nexus ONE represents the first generation of this platform, followed by the advanced secondgeneration Nexus II.

Check out the Illert Testimonial Video: Advancing Flexographic Printing with UV LED Efficiency and Performancetestominal video below!

For more information visit https://www.excelitas.com/product/phoseon-nexus-ii-air-cooled-uv-led-curing-system