UV spot-curing systems have been used in assembly and manufacturing processes for over 30 years. Historically, mercury arc lamps have been used as the curing source in a range of industrial applications and processes to polymerize adhesives. With their broad spectrum and high output, lamps have provided an effective solution for many years.
UV spot curing brought a number of advantages over traditional adhesive assembly methods, including two-part epoxies or thermal cure adhesives. The speed of UV curing helped to increase throughput for assembly processes. In addition, using light rather than heat for curing is well-suited for heat-sensitive plastic parts or electronic components to improve yields. Early applications included single-use medical devices such as catheters and syringes, along with electronic components such as hard disk drives and optical pick-ups.