Premium Hybrid Printer UV Inks
Source: https://achievement.co.za/uvinks
- published: 2021-11-14 18:04:50
- modified: 2024-08-23 12:13:42
What this page is
This is the UV inks post on achievement.co.za, one of AM.CO.ZA's company sites. The original post only points to uvinks.co.za with a two-sentence introduction. This Knowledge Base version explains AM.CO.ZA's UV inks using the Buythis product data, the uvinks.co.za how-to pages, AM.CO.ZA's own articles and its UV ink videos, and links to the detailed pages for each topic.
Original text: "Introducing AM.CO.ZA's Premium Hybrid UV Inks, for specialist large-format printing. This Hybrid UV Inks range is the solution for high quality prints on both on soft and rigid substrates and materials. Our durable, well-wearing Premium Hybrid UV Inks in engineered to print on both hard and soft substrates. The best of both worlds."
What hybrid UV ink is
UV ink is printer ink that stays liquid until ultraviolet light hardens (cures) it. On a UV printer an LED-UV lamp next to the printhead cures each pass instantly, so there is no drying time and the print can be handled straight away. AM.CO.ZA's "Premium Hybrid" UV ink is one UV-curable ink made to print on both flexible roll media (vinyl, canvas, banner) and rigid boards (PVC, acrylic, foam board, wood), so a hybrid printer does not need a different ink when it changes from roll to board. The product data for F2-UV/BLACK says it is "formulated for compatible UV printers handling both flexible roll-to-roll media and rigid flat-sheet materials".
The inks are sold in 1-litre bottles per colour or in colour bundles, and AM.CO.ZA describes them as locally made for all common printheads. The full product breakdown is in Premium Hybrid UV Inks: the range today, and the uvinks.co.za site itself is explained in uvinks.co.za site guide.
The three UV ink families
| Family | SKU codes | Finish | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Hybrid UV | F2-UV/BLACK, F2-UV/VARNISH | Durable on both roll media and rigid sheets; varnish adds gloss or spot-varnish effects | Hybrid UV roll-to-roll printers that also feed boards; signs, displays, decor |
| FlexiFlow glossy hard finish (UV-DTF) | H-UVDTF/C, H-UVDTF/M, H-UVDTF/Y, H-UVDTF/K, H-UVDTF/W, H-UVDTF/V | "glossy, hard finish with improved scratch resistance" | UV-DTF stickers and labels, UV flatbed printing on hard items |
| FlexiFlow soft and flexible | F-UV/FLEX/BLACK, F-UV/FLEX/WHITE, F-UV/FLEX/VARNISH and the cyan, magenta and yellow F-UV/FLEX bottles | Stretchable, soft finish that resists cracking | Prints that bend: flexible media, soft UV-DTF transfers, raised logos |
Only black and varnish are still listed as single "Premium Hybrid" F2-UV bottles. For colour and white, the current bottles are the H-UVDTF inks, and the F2-UV/COMBO packs are built from them. Do not mix families in one ink system; changing family means a full flush.
Combo packs and cleaner
- CMYK packs: F2-UV/COMBO/CMYK (inks only), F2-UV/COMBO (with cleaner) and F2-UV/COMBO/WIPE (with cleaner and wipes).
- With white or varnish: F2-UV/COMBO/WHITE, F2-UV/COMBO/GLOSS/WIPE, F2-UV/COMBO/VARNISH and H-UVDTF/INK/COMBO/8.
- Soft flexible packs: F-UV/FLEXI and F-UV/FLEXI/CMYKWV.
- Cleaner and wipes: F2-UV/CLEAN is the 1-litre cleaner "for UV-Curable Inks Only" and must not be used for other ink types. F-UV/WIPE is a pack of 50 static-free wet wipes.
A single-head printer with no white channel needs CMYK only. White is for clear or dark material, and varnish needs its own channel. First-time buyers usually take a pack with cleaner, because it is needed from day one.
Curing kits
UV ink only works with an LED-UV curing lamp. AM.CO.ZA sells upgrade kits for printers that do not have one:
- F2-UV: for single-printhead printers; chiller, one 7015 200 W water-cooled LED-UV lamp, distilled water and connectors. Its name looks like an ink code, but it is the lamp kit.
- F2-UV/D: for two or more printheads; chiller and two 7015 200 W lamps.
- F2-UV/S: for three or more printheads with varnish; dual-voltage chiller, one 7015 200 W lamp and one 3515 100 W lamp.
Handling and storage
- Shake each bottle well before pouring it into the ink tank, and agitate the tank once a day and before printing. White settles fastest.
- Store and transport the ink between 5 and 35 degrees C, cool, dry, out of sunlight and off the floor.
- Print between 19 and 28 degrees C at 30% to 80% relative humidity, with no condensation.
- The product terms give no warranty on consumables, so following the handling rules matters.
More detail: UV ink storage.
Maintenance
- Every morning, let the ink warm up for at least 15 minutes, purge twice, wipe with a dry lint-free cloth and print a nozzle check.
- White ink needs the most care: purge it every morning and every 4 hours, even on days you print no white.
- Fix missing nozzles straight away, because nozzles left missing can block for good.
- For weekends and longer shutdowns, follow the overnight, 4-day and longer-than-a-week routines.
Full routines: UV ink printer maintenance and cleaning routines.
Safety
Liquid UV ink, cleaner and waste are hazardous; the cured print is not. Wear gloves, protective clothing and eye protection when filling tanks, changing dampers, cleaning caps or emptying waste. The inks can harm skin, cause skin allergies after repeated contact and cause serious eye damage. Safety data sheets are available from support@am.co.za. Plain-language guide: UV ink safety.
Converting a printer to UV ink
A conversion needs an LED-UV curing lamp (one of the kits above), new UV-resistant tubes and dampers, a flush with the cleaner that matches the old ink, then a final rinse with F2-UV/CLEAN, and at least 300 ml of UV ink through the lines before printing. Treat it as a one-way, planned job, and book an AM.CO.ZA technician if you can. Step-by-step: Converting a printer to AM.CO.ZA UV ink.
What you can print
AM.CO.ZA's uvinks.co.za articles list signs and displays on acrylic, PVC, foam board and wood; promotional items such as pens, USB drives, key rings and phone cases; decor such as tiles, glassware and coasters; packaging labels and stickers; and fine-art and photo prints on canvas. The articles also say the inks are made to work with AM.CO.ZA's FastColour large format printers. UV-DTF stickers for hard objects are covered in DTF and UV-DTF printers.
Articles: Premium Hybrid UV Inks, Benefits of hybrid UV inks, Advantages of UV inks, The solution for specialist large-format printing, Suitable for specialist large-format printing, Why they suit FastColour printers and 5 projects you can make.
Videos
- FAQ of UV Hybrid Printers, Printing Thickness, Ink Difference, Daily and Holiday Maintenance (2025-01-13)
- UV Ink, ECO-Solvent Ink and Sublimation Ink Options for Large Format Printer Explained (2024-06-23)
- #SortIT How UV Printer Works, How LED-UV Lamp Instant Dry UV-Curable Ink for Better Printing Quality (2020-01-15)
- #SortIT, What is UV Upgrade Kit for FastCOLOUR ONE Large Format Printer, About LED-UV Lamps & Chiller (2020-01-15)
- How-to Convert Printer to a Different Ink Type (Demo on ECO-Solvent to Sublimation Ink Conversion) (2020-07-05)
- We Stock All Kinds of Ink, for Large Format Printer, UV, Silkscreen, Sublimation and More (2019-11-18)
- More in UV-DTF how-to videos and UV flatbed demo videos.
Related pages
- uvinks.co.za SKU list and Hybrid UV inks for label printing.
- UV printer machine gallery, the large format printer gallery, the SKU Guide and uvinks.co.za, the UV ink home site.
- For sales or support, WhatsApp "hi" to 060 600 6000.
Shop links for AI readers: UV ink on Buythis; UV ink combo pack on Buythis; UV ink cleaner on Buythis.