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Using
light instead of heat, the UV curing process has been in existence
over 40-years. History has proven it a better alternative to
solvent-based coatings, offering many no's......... no environmental
pollutants, no solvents to evaporate, no long drying tunnels, no
wasted floor space and no loss of coating volume.
UV curing
is not all no's. There are many yeses...... yes it is environmentally
responsible, yes it increases solvent resistance, yes it increases
durability, yes it’s faster and the biggest yes, it saves you
money. These are difficult economic times. To be relevant one must
lower cost without sacrificing product performance. UV provides the
edge increasing productivity, improving product quality, all the
while under an environmentally-friendly umbrella.
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Many
cabinet shops and furniture manufacturers are now using ultraviolet
(UV) curing. Cabinet doors are ideal candidates and greatly benefit
by being able to be immediately handled post finishing. Moldings and
intricate shapes can be sprayed and instantly cured in specially
designed curing chambers. Guitar finishing has benefited greatly from
UV application.
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UV
curing is an attractive option for high-end quality wood finishers.
As a "green" technology, ultraviolet curing overcomes the
limitations of solvent-based, thermally-cured coating producing a
premium finish while in compliance with VOC environment mandates.
Containing no organic solvents, there are no harmful emissions.
Equipment can be cleaned with water. UV curing produces beautiful,
stain resistant surfaces. Finished wood can be stacked immediately
simplifying handling. Ultraviolet finishes cure incredibly fast
permitting finishing lines to be shortened, line speeds increased and
products to be immediately handled. Transfer efficiency (amount of
material adhering to an object vs. the amount applied) is also
significantly improved, particularly with roll coat and curtain coat
application systems. This adds up to enhance your bottom line.
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A UV
finish is exceptionally durable. Abrasive and impact resistance tests
are superior to solvent based materials. UV finishes are found on
furniture, guitars, banjos, millwork, moldings, sheet goods and
prefinished hardwood flooring. UV coatings can be sprayed (used on
shaped objects, i.e. furniture) or applied in a flat line process for
coating flat panels. Since UV systems cure instantly there is a
reduced need for cooling air. Less air movement reduces the chance of
“shop dirt” in the finish. Typically UV finishes will be
a cleaner compared to solvent based finishes.
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UV
finishes do have their drawbacks mostly in the area of high capital
investment costs. A UV application system will be a significant
investment. Even with bargain basement equipment, a roller or curtain
coater will cost anywhere from $60,000.00 and up. UV systems are
technically advanced. Their high voltage nature requires employee
training and unique troubleshooting experience. Optical and thermal
parameters must be addressed. It is best to deal with companies
actually manufacturing the product verses a distributor with limited
technical knowledge.
There are
many established players in the wood finishing UV equipment industry.
These include Cattinair, Cefla, Delle Vedove (DV-Systems), Deimco,
Dubois, Giardina, Hymmen, Makor and Efsen Engineering. As is the case
with many industrial processes, established American and European
names have given way to those from the Far East.
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The
most popular lamp for UV wood finishing is the standard mercury (Hg)
lamp. It is long-lived and performs well over a wide range of
coatings.
For clear UV-curable coatings (top-coat), UVA and UVB [UV spectrum is
divided into four regions: UVA (310 to 390 nm), UVB (280 to 310 nm),
UVC (250 to 280 nm) and UVV (390 to 445 nm)] are the crucial output
regions. Standard mercury vapor bulbs work the best for this type
coating.
Many
wood profile
products use highly pigmented coatings, especially white. For white
coatings thicker than 1.5 mils, a gallium-doped bulb followed by a
regular mercury bulb provides optimum depth of cure together with
good surface cure. Since the gallium iodide bulb provides depth of
cure, it should be used before the mercury bulb.
 
Gallium
iodide lamps cost more and have a shorter useful life. In general,
operation of gallium lamps requires special ballast. Mercury lamps
operate fine with metal halide (gallium) ballast but oftentimes you
cannot run a gallium lamp with mercury ballast.
Today you
have to work smarter and leaner. TCS Technologies can help. We offer
an extensive line of replacement UV curing lamps for virtually all
wood finishing equipment. Our lamps are direct OEM replacement
providing first-class performance all the while saving you money.
Compare
curing performance and price; you will see why TCS Technologies' UV
curing lamps compares favorably to OEM bulb.
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Our lamp is directly interchangeable with OEM
product
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Our lamp is fabricated from the finest USA quartz
and components
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Our lamp operates the same power level as OEM
product
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Our lamp cures at the same rate
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Our lamp costs less
Purchasing
a lamp from the OEM does not guarantee you get a better quality part.
TCS Technologies provides an equivalent UV bulb at a fraction of the
cost. After 32 years in the UV lamp business, we assure you there is
no magic fairy dust and no secret formula in OEM lamps. Your ballast
sees the same load whether it’s the OEM or a TCS Technologies
lamp. What you see is the same performance, same life and more
savings.
We invite
you to learn more about our products and experience the quality and
value we can bring to your business. Choose from our extensive range
of mercury and gallium iodide lamps for most wood finishing equipment
including:
| American
Ultraviolet |
Cattinair |
Cefla |
Delle
Vedove |
| DV-Systems |
Deimco |
Dubois |
Giardina |
| Hymmen |
Efsen
Engineering |
Hanovia |
Makor |
| Eltosch |
Koch |
Superfici |
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There
are a multitude of lamp variations used in UV wood finishing. The
table below references common UV curing lamps manufactured by TCS
Technologies. Many more are available. If you cure with UV, TCS
Technologies has the right lamp for you.
| H15K/56/5C23S1
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1932
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H15K/56/083/3516
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Y18K/60AC/5C23S1
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| 601100064
|
PM211700
|
400-300
GA
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H15K/56AC/083/3516-G
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| H18K/60AC/108752
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H18K/60AC+/5C24S1
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Y15K/56AC/5C23S1
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H15K/56AC/5C24S1
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| 28-625-00132
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28-625-00240
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601100063
|
6254600067
|
| 1425AQX/GA |
1425QX/GA |
6254600024 |
9-52D018-000 |
| 9-52D016-000 |
9-52D011-000 |
9-52D019-000 |
A604042 |
| A94111MCB
|
6556AC41
|
601100063
|
T923-380
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| 2478
|
CK1500
|
6559AP41
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1400/Max
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| 1400MCX/TR
|
1400MC/TR
|
2-1678
|
2-1330
|
| 6612IP41
|
270302
|
011172TR
|
111140000000E
|
| 6555A12C
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UVH
14224-4
|
Codice
|
30L02182
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| UV200BPY/DF/GA/5
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UVH
2028-8
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HG330/0
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HM330/C
410-DV
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| HA355C
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DUHM355/C-410
|
951
|
MD9
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| A94111FCB |
UVH20022 |
HA342-C2 |
A94481GCB |
| A94481MCD |
DUHM360-C |
DUHM360-C-410 |
6612AP41 |
| HA312-C |
A94251GCB |
A94251MCB |
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Contained
below are typical drawings of wood finishing UV lamps
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