Show Preview | RadTech 2016 Presents Advances in UV+EB

Published: April 13, 2016, By Claudia Hine

Biennial event shines light on ultraviolet and electron beam curing technologies.

RadTech, the Assn. for UV & EB Technology, Bethesda, MD, will hold RadTech 2016— the every-other-year Global Conference & Expo for UV and EB Curing Technology— on May 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, Rosemont, IL. The conference will include more than 100 presentations as well as pre-event short courses beginning on Sunday, May 15.

Conferences run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and kick off with a free session, “Introduction to the Basics of UV/EB Curing,” presented by Dr. Mike J. Idacavage, Colorado Photopolymer Solutions. Multiple tracks include the following topics: 3D Printing; Specialty Applications; Printing & Packaging; Digital Printing; Coatings; Adhesives; and more.

A reported 80 exhibitors—including Enercon Industries Corp. and Nordson Corp.—will show the latest energy curing technology during the three-day expo. Exhibition hours are Monday and Tuesday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visit the Sustainable Green Printing Partnership (Booth 818) to learn how to get more involved in the sustainable printing movement.

For a complete list of exhibitors, click here. 

Printing & Packaging

A session on Printing & Packaging will take place Monday from 1:00–3:00 p.m. The papers in this session include the following:

• Recent Advances in Low Viscosity, Low Migration, Fast Curing UV/EB Resin Technology—Paul Share, BASF Corp.
• A Prescription for Healthy UV Printing—Laura Maybaum, NAZDAR and Jim Raymont, EIT, NAZDAR inks and EIT Instrument Markets
• UV LED Curing in Production Printing Environments—Jennifer Heathcote, Phoseon Technology
• Functional Coatings to Enhance Decorative Packaging—Kristy Wagner, Red Spot

Also on Monday, a panel discussion on material innovation with consumer product companies will include Alrick Warner, P&G; Todd Fayne, Pepsi Co.; and Robin Wright, 3M.

Tuesday’s schedule includes a Food Packaging Panel from 2:00–3:30 p.m. with Dr. Stephen Klump, Nestlé; Nick Ivory, Sun Chemical; Peter Walther, Siegwerk; Don Duncan, Wikoff Color Corp.; and George Misko, Keller and Heckman. Planned topics include migration definitions, limits, testing, and the various approaches among countries and regions in addressing migration concerns. Safety issues versus customer perception also will be explored.

“Migration issues are the absolutely hottest topic in packaging for food, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco and there are many opinions about what should be done,” says Don Duncan, Wikoff Color and recent president of RadTech. “We will attempt to distill those down and separate fact from fiction as well as separate legitimate concerns (either technical, health, or marketing) from panic and paranoia.”

DIGITAL PRINTING

A session on Digital Printing will be held Monday, May 16, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. PFFC’s “On Print” columnist, Dene Taylor, SPF Inc., will present a paper on “Advances in Inkjet Printing Demanding Changes in Chemistry.” Inkjet printing with energy cure is being applied to an increasing number of applications, now driven by the extensive range of devices. The greatest is frustration is jettable fluid. Technology and opportunities will be discussed.

Open House

PCT Engineered Systems is conducting an open house at its Davenport, IA, headquarters on May 19, the day after the conference concludes. Conference attendees can take a complimentary round-trip chartered coach departing from the Hyatt Regency O'Hare to attend this open house.

“We will have at least six operating ebeam systems of varying sizes on our shop floor during our May Open House, as well as our pilot line and EBLab R&D system,” notes PCT General Manager Terry Thompson. “This event is an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in ebeam technology to get first-hand experience with a wide variety of machine configurations and ebeam applications.”

The tour bus will leave the Hyatt Regency O’Hare at 8:00 a.m. Thursday morning and make the two-and-a-half hour trip to PCT. Guests will receive an overview of ebeam technology, tour the PCT facility, enjoy lunch, and experience several ebeam applications before returning to the Hyatt at 5:00 p.m. that afternoon. Anyone interested in attending the open house or learning more about it should contact PCT Marketing Manager John Salkeld at (563) 285-7411, extension 4409, or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For complete details and registration, visit http://www.radtech2016.com.