LOUPE Americas 2026: Victory Shares Key Insights on the Future of UV Curing

From the continued demand for mercury UV lamps to the potential growth of hybrid curing systems, Victory reflects on the conversations and industry trends surrounding LOUPE Americas 2026.

Victory joined our partners at Height-LED at LOUPE Americas 2026, held September 15–17 in Chicago, USA.

Representing Victory, Dan, VP of Technical Sales, and Justin, VP of Sales for North America, joined the Height-LED team at Booth 3619 to connect with professionals from across the label and narrow web printing industry.

The exhibition provided an opportunity to explore developments in UV curing technology, meet equipment manufacturers and discuss the changing requirements of modern printing operations.

Following LOUPE Americas and PRINTING United Expo, Justin shared his observations on the trends emerging from the exhibitions, the continued role of conventional mercury UV curing and where he believes the industry could be heading over the next three to five years.

What Were the Biggest Trends at LOUPE Americas 2026?

One of Justin's biggest observations from LOUPE Americas was the number of smaller manufacturers exhibiting UV and UV LED curing equipment.

With a wide range of suppliers displaying their technologies, the exhibition highlighted the variety of equipment and solutions available to the printing industry.

For printers, this expanding choice reinforces the importance of understanding which technologies are best suited to their individual applications, production requirements and existing equipment.

Are Printers Moving Away from Mercury UV Curing?

While UV LED technology continues to attract interest, Justin's experience suggests that conventional mercury UV curing remains firmly established in the US market.

When asked whether customers were actively looking to move away from mercury UV lamps, his response was clear: this was not a major topic of discussion among the US customers he was encountering.

Despite developments in UV LED technology, many printing businesses continue to rely on conventional mercury UV systems.

This highlights an important consideration: the transition towards UV LED curing is not necessarily happening at the same pace across every market or application.

For some printers, UV LED may offer advantages such as reduced energy consumption, instant on/off operation and longer operating lifetimes. For others, existing mercury UV systems continue to meet their production requirements.

Rather than treating the two technologies as competing alternatives, the focus should be on selecting the most suitable curing solution for each application.

Find out more: Explore Victory's UV curing lamps and systems or read our guide to the business case for moving from mercury arc to UV LED curing in narrow web label printing.

The Future of UV Curing: Could Hybrid Systems Become More Common?

Looking ahead three to five years, Justin believes hybrid UV curing systems could become increasingly common.

These systems combine conventional mercury UV curing with UV LED technology on the same printing press, allowing printers to use different curing methods at different stages of production.

For example, a ten-colour printing press could operate with conventional mercury UV curing across eight stations, while incorporating UV LED curing at the final two stations for specific coatings, varnishes or other applications.

This approach could allow printers to introduce UV LED technology where it offers practical benefits without necessarily replacing their existing curing systems entirely.

As UV LED equipment becomes more accessible and costs potentially decrease, hybrid configurations may provide an attractive option for businesses looking to adopt new technology gradually.

The key takeaway is that there may not be one curing technology that suits every printing operation.

For many businesses, the future could involve combining the strengths of conventional mercury UV and UV LED curing rather than choosing exclusively between them.

Find out more about Victory's UV curing systems and how UV systems can be integrated into existing production lines.

Hear from Our Team: Post-Show Insights

What stood out at this year's exhibitions? Are printers actively moving away from mercury UV? And what might UV curing technology look like in the next three to five years?

In our post-show video, Justin, VP of Sales for North America, answers these questions and shares his perspective on the trends emerging from LOUPE Americas and PRINTING United Expo.

Watch the video above to hear Justin's insights.

Frequently Asked Questions About UV Curing Technology

What is the difference between mercury UV and UV LED curing?

Conventional mercury UV lamps produce a broad spectrum of ultraviolet radiation, while UV LED systems emit within a narrower wavelength range. Both technologies can be used for curing inks, coatings and varnishes, depending on the materials and application requirements.

Learn more in our article: What is a UV curing system?

Are mercury UV curing systems being replaced by UV LED?

UV LED adoption is developing, but conventional mercury UV curing remains widely used in printing. As Justin observed following the exhibitions, many US printers continue to rely on mercury UV technology, and there is no indication from his conversations that an immediate, widespread transition is taking place.

What is a hybrid UV curing system?

A hybrid UV curing system combines conventional mercury UV and UV LED technology within the same printing process. This allows different curing methods to be used at different stations, depending on the inks, coatings and production requirements.

Can an existing printing press be upgraded with UV LED curing?

Depending on the press configuration and application, it may be possible to retrofit UV LED curing equipment onto an existing press. Important considerations include available space, ink compatibility, curing wavelength, cooling requirements and production speeds.

For further guidance, read our article: Mercury vs UV LED curing: What's the real cost of switching?

You can also explore our UV curing product brochures for further technical information.

Looking Ahead

LOUPE Americas 2026 provided an opportunity to connect with the printing industry and gain insight into the technologies shaping its future.

From the continued importance of mercury UV curing to the potential for more hybrid systems, one message stands out: the right curing technology depends on the application, equipment and production requirements.

At Victory, we support customers with conventional UV curing lamps, UV LED technology and technical advice to help identify the most suitable solutions for their operations.

We would like to thank everyone who visited the Height-LED stand and took the time to speak with our team.

Looking for Advice on UV Curing Technology?

Whether you're maintaining an existing mercury UV system, exploring UV LED technology or considering a hybrid curing configuration, our team is here to help.

Explore our full range of UV curing lamps and systems or contact Victory to discuss your application and requirements.

Email: sales@victorylighting.co.uk

Website: www.victorylighting.co.uk