The Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire-based company has increased its available space by 30% and installed a large-format hybrid printer and a narrow web digital label printer, as well as conventional flexo and small-format litho machines, for technology partners and printers to use as test beds for LED UV ink application development.

Managing director Adrian Lockwood said that ITL had also been working on a number of screen printing projects.

According to Lockwood, within the next five years, the market, including high-speed and high-end applications, will switch to LED UV technology.

Lockwood said that the company already commands more than half of the market for wide-format digital curing using conventional metal lamps and is working with major ink suppliers, including Sun Chemical, to help them optimise the initiators in their inks for the narrow-band emission spectra of LED technology.

"LED is a step change for the industry. Our bread and butter as a business is mercury-based lamps, but we believe that the future is in solid state (LED) technology," he added.

LED technology is currently attracting a lot of attention as an alternative light source to metal lamps as it requires less power, offers longer life without expensive replacement lamp costs, generates less heat and can be supplied in smaller packages.

According to Lockwood, RoHS and REACH environmental regulations would also have an impact on metal lamp technology.