Conference Archive
The Print UV 2025 Agenda
March 10–12, 2025Encore at Wynn Las Vegas
This page documents the program as it ran March 10–12, 2025 at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas. It is preserved as proof of what a Print UV program delivers — it is not the 2027 agenda, and 2025 speakers and sessions should not be read as confirmed for 2027.
Print UV 2025 Archived program — the 2027 agenda is in development.
“Our vision was to create more than just another conference, but a cutting edge information exchange for the UV print industry where attendees bring immeasurable value to each other.”
How the conference ran
The Print UV general session drove a two-day agenda built around one idea: the people presenting are mostly the people running UV and LED UV production every day, joined by top supplier experts. Every meal, break and reception happened in the supplier arena, so the conversation never stopped — day or night.
The rhythm was simple and it worked: an evening welcome reception on arrival day, then two full content days of keynotes, panels and live demonstrations, each capped by an evening networking reception.
Arrival day
Evening welcome reception. Sponsors and attendees came together over hearty appetizers and drinks — a relaxed first look at the people and companies who would fill the next two days.
Day one — full content day
Welcome and kickoff. The conference MCs opened the event, framed the goals and set the themes for two days of learning.
Opening keynote — UV Reigns Supreme: Unleashing the Power and Potential of UV Printing. Kerry Brown, VP of Operations at Curtis Packaging, made the printer’s case for why UV remains a dominant force: exceptional print quality, durability and versatility across substrates — from packaging and labels to embellished graphics.
Light Up the Press! Live UV printing demo at 20,000 sph. Dirk Winkler, Head of Print Technology and Product Management at Koenig & Bauer AG, ran a live demonstration direct from Germany: the Rapida 106X running LED UV at 20,000 sheets per hour, with rapid plate changes and fast-switching curing systems.
Is UV (or LED UV) OK for Food Packaging? John Foody of Double H Plastics and Jonathan Graunke of INX International Ink Company walked through a real transition to LED UV for food-safe packaging — low-migration compliance, equipment retrofits, adhesion and curing consistency, and the efficiency gains that followed.
Expanding the Gamut: Mastering 7+ Color UV Printing. Panel leaders Chris Travis of Koenig & Bauer and Jack Frank of Smurfit Westrock led color experts, UV ink specialists and press technologists through expanded gamut printing: hitting demanding brand colors with fixed ink sets, reducing spot-color dependency and unlocking new design possibilities.
Digital UV Embellishments: How to Pack the Perfect Punch. Kevin Abergel, President and Founder of Taktiful Software, keynoted, followed by a panel moderated by Eric Vessels with Spencer Bruno (Harris & Bruno), Brian Damitz (KURZ) and Barry Walsh (Konica Minolta) — real-world stories and an equipment roundup covering foil applications, raised coatings and spot gloss.
The first-ever Ullee Award reveal. The Print UV Association Board of Advisors unveiled the Ullee Award for UV Printing Excellence, with a special dedication to Print UV co-founder Hans Ulland. Read the Ullee Award story.
Evening networking reception. The day closed where it started — attendees, speakers and sponsors together in the supplier arena.
Day two — full content day
Why Should I Print with UV? (and How to Best Do It). Moderator D.J. Cabler of Smurfit Westrock led printers Kerry Brown (Curtis Packaging) and Rod Franson (Carlson Print Group) through the fundamentals, reimagined: ink formulation advances, LED curing’s growing role, when UV is the right choice and the myths that hold printers back.
UV and LED Curing Technology Advancements.Tim Sterbak (IST Metz), Robert Rae (GEW) and Marc Boden (Benford UV), moderated by Print UV co-founder Steve Metcalf, covered hybrid UV/LED systems, multi-wavelength curing, energy efficiency, mercury-free sustainability and where curing R&D is headed.
UV Inks and Coatings — What’s the Next Special Effect? Robert Andrews (ACTEGA), Derrick Hemmings (Sun Chemical) and Jonathan Graunke (INX International), moderated by Chris Travis of Koenig & Bauer, looked at the next generation of energy-curable special effects: raised textures, metallic enhancements, gloss and matte contrasts, faster curing and low-migration formulations.
Overcoming Challenges in UV and LED Printing. Dan Cunningham (Quartz Lamps, Inc. & Victory Lighting), James “Jimbo” Eakin (formerly Foster Printing & Trojan Litho) and Steve Howell (Sun Chemical) got practical: pressroom troubleshooting, operator training, retrofit economics and building client trust in UV products.
Closing keynote — Applying AI to Your Printing Powerhouse. Steve Metcalf, AI strategist and founder and CEO of IMAGINE AI LIVE, closed the conference with real-world examples of AI at work in printing — press performance, quality control, personalization and workflow — a session that pointed directly at where the Print UV program goes next.
Closing remarks wrapped two full days of content, with announcements about what comes next for Print UV.
What this says about 2027
The content changes every conference; the rhythm doesn’t. An evening welcome reception, two full content days led by working printers and supplier experts, live demonstrations, and every meal and break spent in the supplier arena. The 2027 program is in development now — it will build on this foundation and expand it with practical AI content for the printing and packaging industry.
Print UV returns April 19–21, 2027 at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.
“Just a single, actionable idea is all it takes to make attending the PRINT UV conference worthwhile. And the time spent networking with colleagues, peers and friends (old and new alike) for a few days in a relaxed setting in Las Vegas is priceless.”
Continue through the archive: the 2025 speakers, the photo gallery or back to the 2025 highlights.