Hoenle Expands UV Scan Macs Dose Measurement System with LED Strips

Hoenle AG is expanding its UV dose measurement system, UV Scan Macs, with a new strip version designed specifically for LED-UV systems: the MacsStrips 950 LED. This gives users of LED-UV curing systems access, for the first time, to the same precise measurement technology that has already established itself in the UV Scan Macs system for conventional mercury vapor lamps in the dose range of 20–700 mJ/cm². UV Scan Macs was developed by Hoenle in collaboration with its technology partner Pruuve and is considered the world’s first UV dosimetry system based on delayed phosphorescence. It replaces traditional color-change indicator strips, which are known for their sensitivity to storage conditions and can therefore become unusable even before use or deliver incorrect measurements without anyone noticing. The system consists of two components: the MacsReader readout unit and the self-adhesive, flexible MacsStrips sensor strips. The new MacsStrips 950 LED are specifically tailored to the LED wavelengths commonly used in practice—365, 385, and 395 nm—and cover a dose range from 60 to 950 mJ/cm². This allows the actual dose emitted by an LED-UV system to be measured directly on the substrate—an advantage that is particularly significant for LED systems: The substrate-based measurement approach allows for a localized assessment of individual areas within a UV-LED array, thereby revealing intensity differences that blanket measurement methods fail to detect.

Precise UV Dose Measurement for LED-UV Systems

The measurement is based on a patented principle of delayed phosphorescence: Each strip is individually calibrated before use, reliably compensating for variations caused by production or storage. During the actual measurement, the strip absorbs a portion of the previously calibrated reference dose; and the MacsReader calculates the actual UV dose applied from the difference. This is reproducible and independent of the time of measurement. Unlike conventional color-changing strips, MacsStrips do not require cooling and are insensitive to ambient light and humidity: Under normal room conditions, they can be stored for more than twelve months. Comparative measurements also confirm a linear 1:1 correlation between the UV-A/B/C values and the established industry standard Power Puck II—all while requiring significantly less space. This means MacsStrips can also be used in applications where the Power Puck II reaches its limits due to space constraints, such as in printing and coating applications and even on 3D surfaces. The MacsReader stores up to 2,000 measurements locally on the device, without requiring a smartphone or cloud connection. For further analysis, the data can be exported via USB as a CSV file. Users thus benefit from a solution that combines data privacy, independence, and ease of use in everyday production. The MacsStrips 950 LED is available now and complements the existing UV Scan Macs portfolio.