Space Utilization

A drying oven for a conventional web coating line may extend for 50 to 100 feet, a space consumption in the neighborhood of 500 to 1000 square feet. At a floor space cost alone of only $0.50/ft²/month, that costs $3000-6000 per year. The equivalent UV "dryer" would require 50 to 100 square feet. In instances where floor space carries a premium cost, total indirect operating costs could be significantly sensitive to this element.

More important is the utilization of the same space: a thermal dryer for a one-pass bottle screen printer may be 40 feet long, while an entire 3-color printer with UV cure at each color station is only 13 feet in length.

Adhesive and potting applications using two-part adhesives or RTV types of compounds must allow cure time, usually measured in days. This is most costly in terms of cycle time and tied-up work-in-process inventory, but when the number of parts is large, the consumption of floor space could be significant.

Excerpt from: Stowe, R.W., "Some Economic Factors of UV Curing;"
Copyright Fusion UV Systems, Inc.

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