The Xaar 1001 inkjet printhead is a key component of a growing number of innovative direct-to-shape digital decoration systems coming to market.
Printing full colour images and text directly onto glass, PET and metal containers is a highly efficient process. It cuts out materials and inventory, reduces time to market and avoids many of the costs associated with using labels or sleeves. Images and text can be fully variable if required so that each container can be unique for targeted marketing campaigns or traceability purposes. In addition, decoration can be applied easily to irregular-shaped and textured containers which can pose a challenge for traditional labels and sleeves.
For high-speed, single-pass direct-to-shape decoration, it is critical that the printhead delivers exceptional print quality with maximum reliability. In addition, for container decoration that includes a high-opacity white base layer, the white ink, which is heavily pigmented, needs to be kept in suspension and in constant motion within the printhead to avoid nozzle blocking.
The revolutionary design of the Xaar 1001 printhead is ideal for direct-to-shape printing systems. The high native resolution and greyscale capability of the Xaar 1001 gives an effective resolution of over 1000 dpi producing high quality, smooth tone images and pin sharp text. It also features Xaar’s patented TF Technology combined with Hybrid Side Shooter architecture to deliver the highest flow rate of ink past the back of the inkjet nozzle during drop ejection. As a result, the ink is kept in constant suspension, any air bubbles and particles are removed, and the printhead remains continuously primed to deliver maximum production uptime – even in the harshest industrial environments.
“Leading brands are continuously looking at new ways to innovate their packaging in order to differentiate from their competition,” says Mark Alexander, Director of Marketing for Xaar. “With these new direct-to-shape systems, manufacturers can really push the creative boundaries. They have the potential to cut out costs associated with labels, and still achieve high quality results, and they can respond quickly to product variations with the ability to implement new designs quickly and to change them ‘on the fly’ without stopping production. Direct-to-shape digital decoration is still a relatively new technique, but one that we predict will grow.”