Waterless newspaper printing enthusiasts have been pleasantly surprised by results from LED light curing that ‘far exceeded expectations’.
Users of Koenig & Bauer’s Cortina presses convened at BZ Medien Group’s Freiburger Druck site in Germany for the annual user workshop on September 23-24, a report of which has only now been issued.
K&B Cortina project manager Georg Zitterbart said LED light curing had proven itself in production and delivered outstanding results. “With further optimisation under way, and at least four more installations planned, this is a pivotal moment in waterless offset production. The technology offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to gas dryers – and the industry is taking notice.”
The 80 participants heard that results from a production environment had significantly outperformed expectations following months of rigorous testing, paving the way for broader adoption across newspaper and commercial printing sectors.
“Vibrant, high-quality results” were being achieved on a wider range of substrates, including coated papers previously limited by drying constraints.
Freiburger Druck production head Daniel Bindersaid printed results stood out with brilliant colours and excellent curing.
“For the first time, LED light curing has demonstrated stable, high-quality output on coated papers, which is a major step forward for newspaper printing. In addition, LED light curing modules can be integrated easily and modularly into existing press systems without major modifications to the control technology.”
Binder said they had waited to share results until solid, real-world data was available. “The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Numerous comments emphasised that the results shown far exceeded expectations.”
Delegates heard Netherlands-based Rodi Rotatiedruk – part of the Rodi Media Group, and the world’s first Cortina user – was now exploring LED light curing to expand its commercial possibilities. Owner Dick Ranzijn, who was a guest speaker at the recent WAN-Ifra world print summit, said LED light curing was seen as a gateway to new markets, including high-quality, glossy magazines with demanding print standards.
“It also offers potential for reduced ink usage and waste, while maintaining exceptional quality.”
Having followed the successful testing at Freiburger closely, they plan to build a commercial business case for the technology for their Cortina press. Rodi Media publishes 1.5 million copies weekly across 45 editions and prints titles for other publishers including Dutch Times and Financial Times.
Paul Huybrechts, chief executive of Printing Partners Paal-Beringen in Belgium, also expressed strong interest in LED light curing for commercial applications. “LED light curing is an important step forward,” he said. “However, this is not only about newspaper production. We have an expanding commercial platform where this technology could play a key role. It is something we will be testing soon. From what we have seen so far, the potential is significant.”
Unlike standard heatset dryers, LED light curing uses compact modules powered by electricity rather than gas. Developers say this significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions dependency on fossil fuels, as well as energy costs. The technology supports a more sustainable and profitable printing process.
Waterless printing, enabled by silicone-coated plates that eliminate the need for dampening solution, is already a cleaner alternative. The Cortina press delivers brilliant results in coldset and heatset applications without water or ink key adjustments. With cost-effective LED, the web paper is instantly dried, unlocking new commercial opportunities such as book covers and premium magazines.
Users around the world are hoping Georg Zitterbart is correct that with further optimisation under way, and at least four more installations planned, this will prove a pivotal moment in waterless offset production.
“The technology offers a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to gas dryers – and the industry is taking notice.”