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BETHESDA, MD – RadTech, the trade association for UV and EB technology, announced the 2016 Emerging Technology Awards in recognition of the use of fast, efficient and environmentally responsible UV and EB technologies. RadTech will celebrate the award winners at the Emerging Technology Awards Dinner taking place on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, IL. The dinner takes place during RadTech’s Biennial Trade Show & Conference, May 16-18, 2016. Details on the conference and dinner are available at http://www.radtech2016.com.
PepsiCo
Seeking to lower their carbon footprint, Pepsico is looking to EB-Flexo inks as a replacement for its use of solvent-based materials for snack food packaging. Technological developments around EB ink chemistry and lacquer formulation paired with the right choices of flexographic equipment and substrates are creating stunning advances in print quality and aesthetics. Pepsico reports the use of EB technology reduces VOC emissions as much as 90 percent, with lower energy consumption when compared to conventional thermal drying. EB is considered food friendly, which enables Pepsi to make attractive, environmentally compliant packaging that is cost neutral when compared to incumbent solvent and thermal drying technologies.
Wavefront
Wavefront makes state-of-the-art holographic films using advanced roll-to-roll continuous UV casting lines to manufacture nano/micro-structure embossed films on a variety of film substrates. This capability allows for the manufacture of microstructures from 200 nanometers up to 150 microns. These unique structures can only be achieved using the latest UV curing and formulating technologies.
Continuous Composites (CC3D)
CC3D has developed a new 3D printing process to print continuous fiber with UV curable resin; it is reportedly the only company in the world that is 3D printing continuous fiber with thermoset epoxy and the only company to successfully print continuous fiber into free space. CC3D has demonstrated 16x and 8x multi-material nozzles printing at once as a seamless path utilizing 6K TOW carbon fiber, and 600 TEX fiberglass. With a focus on functional composites additive manufacturing to scale, CC3D is providing an industrial solution to advanced manufacturing techniques of mid- to large-scale.
HRL Laboratories LLC
The HRL team demonstrated the first-ever UV additive manufacturing of polymer-derived ceramics. By formulating pre-ceramic UV curable polymers, the team at HRL demonstrated the first-ever additive manufacturing of fully dense, binder-less ceramics. The accomplishment was published in the January 2016 issue of Science. These unique pre-ceramic photopolymers can be integrated into commercially available UV SLA or DLP equipment to produce flaw-free, high-strength ceramics with up to 1800 °C operating temperatures. Potential applications for this novel technology include turbine engine components, hypersonic vehicle structures, MEMS devices and electronics packaging.
Cleveland Steel Container
Cleveland Steel Container (CSC) has developed the first commercial in-line EB and UV process for rigid steel coil substrates in the manufacture of steel pails. CSC is the largest steel pail manufacturer in North America. CSC applies and cures EB and UV directly to steel coil for five-gallon pail lids and bottoms. This application is also unique in the use of highly pigmented systems to steel for rigid fabrication. Beyond a dramatic reduction in energy requirements, CSC reports that since “EB coatings are 100-percent solids formulations, it means no loss of evaporated solvent from the applied coating. It also means less coating usage and required storage area compared to solvent systems. EB was not only found to be a more efficient technology, it also contributes significantly to a higher level of workplace comfort. Traditional thermal systems are massive, and the company just doesn’t have the additional space required for that kind of setup.”
NOVAGARD Solutions
Novagard has developed the first industrial UV LED PSA installation on a coating line. Novagard converted a water-based PSA for its 58″ wide PVC foam line to a UV LED curable PSA and is now using it in to produce PVC foam rolls (more commonly known as weather stripping). The system consists of two 62″-wide banks of UV LED curing systems. Conventional UV lamps could not be used as they delivered too much heat to the substrate, causing damage. UV LED was the only viable solution. Going to a UV solution resulted in a superior peel strength, which allowed Novagard to pursue new market opportunities.
Carbon 3D
Carbon’s vision is “a future fabricated with light, where traceable, final-quality parts are produced at scale with CLIP technology.” CLIP (continuous liquid interface production) makes this possible by combining engineering grade materials with exceptional resolution and surface finish. By harnessing light and oxygen to produce objects from a pool of resin, CLIP is a photochemical process that eliminates the shortcomings of conventional 3D printing by more rapidly producing objects. “From everyday products like tennis shoes and electronics, to industrial components, to highly customizable medical devices, CLIP makes it possible for creators to design the parts and products of the future.”
City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland was recognized for projects that included Cleveland’s Progressive Field ballpark, home of the major league Cleveland Indians. Projects utilized exploration and use of UV curable materials as a contribution to environmental sustainability in the city, recognizing UV technology solutions to long-standing issues for protection against corrosion and to provide superior protection for metals, concrete, stones and other substrates in an efficient and fast curing manner.
RadTech Accelerator Award – Poly6 Technologies
In recognition of the increasing interest by young people in the development of sustainable new materials and processes, RadTech now offers an Accelerator award to recognize innovative ideas and start-ups. The goal of RadTech is to recognize and publicize the work of new ventures and provide mentoring and expertise from among the volunteer leadership of our group. The first winner of the RadTech Accelerator Award is Poly6 Technologies.
Poly6 Technologies turns citrus rinds into bio-based materials, which the company calls Citrene™. This start-up is introducing clean and sustainable materials for use in performance applications. Environmental stewardship is one of the most prevailing and urgent global initiatives, and Poly6 is reinforcing the notion that sustainable business is competitive business. Citrene has gained traction in various industries due to its unique combination of performance, process ability and sustainability advantages, offering enhanced performance, natural materials, throughput benefits, and low GHG emissions, all enabled by UV and EB technology.