With swap4cure, IST METZ brings several curing and drying technologies together on one platform. Depending on the print job, conventional UV curing, LED-UV or thermal drying with infrared and hot air can be used. The concept is aimed at press manufacturers and printers that need to handle different substrates, ink and coating systems, and changing production requirements.
Modular design for changing printing processes
Quick-change modules are designed to reduce maintenance and service times and support machine availability. LEDcure NX is one of the systems available for LED-UV applications. The current LED generation achieves an efficiency of 50 percent and allows output to be adjusted according to process requirements.
SMARTcure adds AI-assisted process control. The system analyses production data and determines the UV dose required for each print job. This allows energy input to be adapted to process demand while supporting process stability and reproducibility.
Path towards photoinitiator-free UV systems
FREEcure is also included in the platform strategy as a future development. The targeted use of high-energy UVC radiation is intended to support photoinitiator-free UV systems, with packaging and food-related applications among the areas of use.
The modular architecture is designed to allow future ink and coating systems, regulatory requirements and new curing technologies to be integrated into existing machine concepts. swap4cure will be presented at LOUPE Americas 2026 at booth 3310 in Hall B.