Out on the floor, that UV lamp isn’t just another part. It’s the engine of your curing line. When the job spec calls for clean cross-linking of photoinitiators, mismatched spectral output shuts the line down and turns good material into scrap. And CE certification isn’t paperwork. It’s the technical passport that proves the lamp’s design meets the harmonized standards for safety, EMC, and performance. What matters, technically The difference between UVA, UVB, and UVC comes down to wavelength and the photochemistry you get as a result. UVA (315–400 nm), typically centered at 365 nm or 385 nm, drives surface and through-cure by hitting the common photoinitiator absorption bands. That gives you deep cross-linking without cooking the substrate. UVB (280–315 nm) brings higher photon energy, which helps when you need to control surface tack on opaque or filled inks and still accelerate cure. UVC (100–280 nm) is used for germicidal work and surface oxidation, but it’s rarely the primary curing band for industrial inks because of ozone generation and material degradation. We specify spectral distribution and deliver stable peak irradiance. That lets you set a repeatable dose (mJ/cm²) and keep it there, shift after shift. Why this matters in practice CE marking means the reflector efficiency, dichroic coating, junction temperature, and arc stability meet audited requirements. In plain terms, it clears the way for market access. For you, that means fewer compliance headaches when you ship into the EU and other regulated markets. And fewer process surprises, because the lamp behaves predictably. You get consistent light intensity, less variance in cure energy, and fewer rejects from under-cured layers. Here’s what to watch for Even with a CE-compliant UV lamp, you still need system-level alignment. Match the lamp’s spectral output to your ink’s photoinitiator window. Verify the reflector geometry matches your print width. And confirm the power supply and connectors are compatible with your press. Plan for thermal management, too. Keeping junction temperature stable preserves output and stretches lamp life.