RadTech hosted its 2025 Annual Winter Meeting in Tampa, bringing together industry professionals for discussions on regulatory updates, market trends, and sustainability in UV/EB curing. Key takeaways included advancements in photoinitiators, extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, coil coatings and OSHA/PFAS regulations.

Regulatory and Market Developments

• Photoinitiators & FDA Developments: Regulatory challenges continue to affect supply chains, with TSCA, REACh and the German Printing Ink Ordinance impacting photoinitiator availability. The FDA’s reorganization under the Human Food Program (HFP) is shifting its approach to food contact materials, including a focused assessment on photoinitiators.
• EPR & Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Findings: A RadTech study comparing EB, UV and water-based inks found that EB inks had the lowest environmental footprint, reducing emissions by 30-50% compared to water-based inks. EPR legislation in New York now seeks to classify benzophenone as toxic, while concerns over carbon black bans continue.
• Coil Coatings & Market Study: RadTech’s LCA on EB/UV coil coatings is measuring energy savings, VOC reduction, and recyclability improvements, with early results showing significant emissions and hazardous waste reductions.

Industry Updates

• TSCA & PFAS Reporting: Manufacturers and importers must report all PFAS materials (2011-2022), including by-products, with no de minimis exemptions.
• OSHA & Printing Industry Standards: Proposed updates to migration vs. extraction testing could impact PP substrates, while new hazard classification changes may further differentiate U.S. and EU regulations.

RadTech members can access meeting slides through the organization.

RadTech 2025 Conference in Detroit

RadTech will continue these discussions at the RadTech 2025 UV+EB Technology & Conference, scheduled for May 18-21, 2025, at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The event will focus on sustainability, reindustrialization, and the evolving role of manufacturing, featuring a technical program and global exhibition.

For more details and registration, visit RadTech 2025.