High intensity UV radiation is used for the curing and drying of inks, varnishes, plastics and adhesives due to the fast and complete polymerisation it causes in the material. An appropriate spectral output with high radiation flux ensures an efficient drying process is achieved.

For the curing of inks and varnishes, medium pressure Mercury lamps in the power range 0.1kW to 25 kW and up to 2.5m long are now used.

In addition, lamps doped with Gallium, Iron or a mixture of the two, whose spectral outputs match the absorption spectra of the photoinitiators, may be used. The better the match, the better will be the efficiency of the drying process.

The guaranteed life of most of the UV lamps is 1500 hours.