#xaar

plus stream date for ACT 2!!

spoilers under cut for that obviously.

Leading inkjet technology group Xaar is taking corrugated packaging printing to a new level, delivering flexo quality and a reduced cost per print alongside digital customization and personalization benefits in a single pass.

Xaar’s ultra high viscosity technology is enabling its Aquinox printhead to jet fluids of up to 1000 centipoises (cP) at ambient temperature (approx. 100 cP at jetting temperature), which has enabled chemists to develop inks that overcome many of the barriers inkjet has previously faced in the corrugate sector. 

These new high viscosity formulations minimize ink absorption into corrugated surfaces to produce unbeatable opacity and colour vibrancy, ensuring both visible appeal and durability for corrugated packaging. 

By absorbing less ink into the board, the same print quality is achieved with less ink, enabling faster printing and significantly reducing production costs as well as the total cost of ownership. Printing with the new water-based high viscosity inks developed by Nazdar easily meets the demands of even the fastest corrugated packaging production lines. 

In addition, with less substrate penetration, high-viscosity inks can remove the need for primers, simplifying the printing process and improving sustainability by reducing drying energy and fluid usage – resulting in brighter, more vibrant prints on uncoated and unprimed corrugate boards. Xaar’s technology also significantly decreases cost per job alongside delivering flexo-level print quality, meaning digital print is more relevant than ever before.

Independent research conducted by the Welsh Centre for Printing and Coating at Swansea University clearly demonstrated that using Xaar’s ultra high viscosity technology increases color density by up to 60 per cent, expanding the colour gamut and boosting productivity. In addition, by reducing water in the inks, less energy is consumed in the drying process, lowering operational costs and aligning with corrugated packaging manufacturers’ sustainability goals. 

Reliability is key in any print application, and the Xaar Aquinox’s higher throw distance prevents any substrate-induced damage through collisions with the printhead, and accommodates varying gauges of cardboard. Xaar’s TF Technology eliminates potential nozzle blockages from cardboard dust, and fast printhead recovery minimizes ink waste and downtime during production starts and stops. Optimal ink conditions can be maintained throughout long print runs by a Megnajet fluid management system ensuring uniform print quality when using high viscosity inks. 

Xaar’s business development manager, Neil Cook said, “Historically, inkjet printing has not been able to provide the quality, reliability or speed that corrugated packaging print required. Now, thanks to our Ultra High Viscosity Technology, we can deliver the high print quality standards demanded while reducing the cost per print.”

Xaar is focused on building inkjet’s growth within the corrugate sector, highlighting its benefits to attract more customers. Neil concluded: “Alongside the intrinsic advantages of customization available from digital print, with its impactful colors, reduced cost per print and sustainability benefits, Xaar Technology is providing a game-changing shift in corrugated printing. This innovation is redefining what’s possible for users, unlocking new opportunities in print and setting a new standard for the industry.”

Xaar, a leader in industrial inkjet technology, is driving advancements in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing with improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability.

Through its partnerships with Shifang Intelligent Manufacturing Technology and Shenzhen Omijia Intelligent Technology, traditional coating methods are being replaced with Xaar’s innovative inkjet technology, powered by its Xaar eX and Nitrox eX printheads.

The electric vehicle market’s rapid growth is driving increased demand for battery packs capable of withstanding higher voltages. As a result, effective coatings are essential for providing robust protection against the heat generated during high-voltage charging and preventing wear and tear caused by densely packed battery configurations. Traditional coating methods, such as PET film, have struggled to meet these demands, creating a barrier to improved battery performance.

As the first inkjet company to introduce a printhead specifically designed for the battery sector, Xaar provides advanced technologies - such as its TF Technology for consistent ink recirculation and Sure Flow self-cleaning to deliver reliable performance and simplified maintenance. Xaar’s High Laydown Technology also offers significant advantages for ink formulators, providing the flexibility to design high-performance coatings that ensure uniform layers that are essential for battery safety and durability.

Based in Guangdong Province, Shifang specialises in battery surface inspection and advanced self-developed visual algorithms. The company has successfully transitioned from traditional blue PET films to UV inkjet printing, leveraging Xaar's printheads to provide cost-effective, environmentally conscious solutions.

Since adopting Xaar’s printheads, Shifang has achieved significant improvements, including a 30 per cent reduction in material costs compared to traditional coatings. With the mass production of Shifang’s self-developed inks on the horizon, potential savings could exceed 50%. Additionally, the solution boasts an ink utilization rate of over 99%, driving greater efficiency and sustainability.

Similarly, Shenzhen Omijia Intelligent Technology, a leading manufacturer of smart equipment and precision fixtures for the EV battery industry, has also harnessed Xaar’s eX and Nitrox eX printheads to develop UV inkjet solutions that outperform traditional coating methods. Omijia’s technology addresses key challenges in lithium-ion battery insulation coatings, ensuring superior performance and compliance with stringent safety and sustainability benefits.

Zack Zhang, founder and CEO of Shifang, stated, “Our collaboration with Xaar has undoubtedly led to groundbreaking advancements in battery insulation coating.

“By integrating Xaar’s eX printhead technology with our proprietary sensors and systems, we are delivering efficient, sustainable, and innovative manufacturing solutions.”

Henry Liu, general manager of Omijia, said, “Traditional blue film coating methods no longer meet today’s stringent safety standards. With Xaar’s eX and Nitrox eX printheads, we have achieved exceptional stability and reliability.”

John Mills, CEO of Xaar, emphasized the importance of both these collaborations: “Our work with both Omijia and Shifang highlights Xaar’s commitment to advancing the EV industry by addressing critical challenges in battery manufacturing - from improving production efficiency to reducing environmental impact.

“Given the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and the ongoing changes in battery manufacturing, the importance of innovation and collaboration cannot be overstated.

“We look forward to continuing our partnerships with Omijia and Shifang to drive further advancements and support the growth of the global battery industry.” 

Xaar, an inkjet innovator, providing printheads and technologies for OEM and UDI customers worldwide, is inviting visitors at drupa to hear how the latest inkjet technologies are rewriting the rulebook for textile printing in a presentation to be made as part of the show’s touchpoint textile forum.

Speaking on June 3 in hall 4, Karl Forbes, the Xaar group’s R&D director, will show how its Aquinox printhead, utilizing Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity printing and patented High Laydown Technology, is transforming productivity in digital textile printing.

Chemists at Nazdar were able to produce a new fluid technology that can deliver clarity and high pigment loading while simultaneously reducing the use of raw materials and energy costs. Vibrant, color-rich textiles can now be achieved by using half the traditional amount of ink and printhead passes, delivering significant machine productivity savings.

Notably, Nazdar’s new HighV Aqua Series includes a high viscosity white ink, which when coupled with the TF Technology embedded within Xaar’s Aquinox printhead, provides customers with quality textile printing at an efficiency that was previously unmatched.

Drupa will also see Xaar technology across the show – including its recent collaboration with Koenig & Bauer Kammann (Kammann) to create personalized embossed effects on glass bottles, plastic and metal containers at a build height of up to 3mm. Utilizing Xaar’s Nitrox printheads with new high viscosity fluids developed by global ink manufacturer Marabu, Kammann’s machines can jet at greater viscosity and carry a significantly increased pigment load, delivering more color vibrancy and capturing fine details with up to 50 per cent less ink. 

Colors no longer need pinning, delivering significant savings in the time required for printing, as well as reductions in energy and material use. Overall, the speed of production can be more than doubled, making inkjet printing a greater reality for a much wider variety of decorative applications.

Commenting on the exhibition, Karl Forbes said, “drupa is the perfect show for visitors to hear how Xaar’s inkjet technology is enabling the development of new fluids and providing access to the many potential benefits of digital printing.

Leading Inkjet Technology Group, Xaar has launched its first Sustainability Report, highlighting the transformative progress made towards the objectives set out in the company’s Sustainability Roadmap to 2030.

The downloadable report provides a comprehensive overview of Xaar’s sustainability achievements and future ESG initiatives. It demonstrates the Group’s goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 and the positive impacts that have been delivered for customers, suppliers, employees, and local communities.

The report features dedicated sections detailing each pillar of Xaar’s Sustainability Roadmap – Environment, People, Innovation, and Community, and the progress made in these areas. It also showcases the proactive efforts of its dedicated ESG and Continuous Improvement teams, with Xaar recently recognized as a finalist at the 2024 Edie Sustainability Awards for the decarbonization of its cleanrooms.

Underscoring Xaar’s commitment to sustainable product development, case studies in the report spotlight how Xaar’s printheads have led the way in meeting industry demands with innovative and sustainable solutions.

Commenting on its launch, Xaar’s CEO, John Mills said: “We are delighted to launch our first sustainability report. At Xaar, we have a strong belief in corporate responsibility and ESG is now firmly embedded in our culture and corporate DNA.

Xaar, the leading inkjet printing technology group, has announced that Graham Tweedale has been appointed to the new role of the chief operating officer, reporting to the company’s CEO, John Mills.

Joining Xaar in 1997 as a technician in the R&D team, Graham helped develop its first-generation inkjet printhead products. He spent five years in Sweden working at the company’s first manufacturing facility before returning to the UK to set up and open the Huntingdon factory in 2007.

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Xaar plans for sustainable growth

Graham has held several senior management positions within the company and successfully led several business-critical programs and product launches. As general manager for the Printhead Business, he has played a key role in developing and implementing Xaar’s latest printhead strategy, including the launch of the ImagineX platform and its collaborative approach to development.

Graham said, “I am proud and excited to have been appointed as the company’s COO, especially at such an important point in the evolution of inkjet technology. The extraordinary speed of innovation I have seen in the first 25 years at Xaar looks set to be matched and even surpassed in the next 25.

“Our creativity, passion and collaborative development with clients will ensure Xaar plays a leading role in unleashing the power of inkjet.”

Xaar launches the Irix

UK based developer of inkjet printing technology Xaar has announced the launch of its newest printhead, The Xaar irix.The printhead is powered by Imagine X,The Xaar irix delivers exceptional print quality, has a user-friendly UI as well as being a robust and highly efficient printhead.The Irix is available in two variants,The Core and the ProThe Irix Core works with print applications using oil…

Cambridge, 19 July 2021, the reliability and performance of Xaar’s printheads are proving key for another UK cutting edge jetting provider, Meta Additive, as it revolutionizes additive manufacturing in volume metal and ceramic 3D printing (M3DP). The collaborative approach between both businesses began in 2020 after Meta Additive had experienced difficulties sourcing printheads with sufficient capacity to deliver the performance required for its novel chemical approach to 3D printing, enabling the tailoring of materials at the molecular level.

Following a meeting with Xaar and Meta Additive’s CTO, Kate Black, a Xaar 1003 printhead was selected and supplied in under four weeks despite lockdown conditions. The application was up and running immediately. The wide operating window and unique technologies within the Xaar 1003 printhead enabled Meta Additive to use various fluids that had previously been seen as too difficult to jet. Xaar’s printhead architecture and unique TF technology, high laydown, and high viscosity capability, in conjunction with the technical support from Xaar’s Advanced Applications and Technologies Group, helped Meta Additive move beyond the conventional limits of inkjet printing.

“After initially finding it impossible to gain access to a sufficiently capable printhead, the arrival of Xaar’s 1003 product, with its unique technologies and ability to handle a wide range of fluids, was a game-changer for our development process,” said Kate Black. “With the remarkable performance and operating window of the Xaar 1003, and Xaar’s willingness to engage in open, truly two-way collaboration and development, we have seen the partnership deliver unprecedented progress and genuine innovation in the M3DP field.”

Multi-material jetting to push the boundaries of inkjet

The award of a £1.2 million Innovate UK Smart grant will build on this development as Meta Additive and Xaar work with The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and Epivalence to achieve metal 3D printing of multi-materials at scale. Mike Seal, Xaar’s head of Advanced Applications, Technologies and Fluids, said, “Our work with Meta Additive and its binder jetting innovation is as creative as it is relevant to today’s evolving manufacturing environment. And above all, it demonstrates the role that inkjet technology and collaboration between forward-thinking businesses are playing in pushing the boundaries of inkjet.

“The ability of the team to think laterally, adopting and adapting to drive their progress, fits hand in glove with our Advanced Applications and Technologies Group, and we are very much looking forward to where this superb collaborative development can take manufacturing in the future.”