Sun Chemicals new division for ink-jet ink development and manufacture has signed a deal with Xaar.


SunJet is based on the firms Coates Electrographics division and is headed by general manager John Law, previously head of Coates Screen in the UK (PrintWeek, 23 March).


Xaar has signed an agreement with SunJet to offer a range of inks for use with its printheads. Xaar said that the agreement will enable it to offer its products in the packaging market.


"This was an important agreement," said Xaar finance director Gordon MacLeod. "Its not enough to produce a head that squirts ink, we want an ink that goes well on the substrates and performs well."


SunJet has developed UV, oil-based and solvent-based inks for use with Xaar printheads, which are currently being optimised by Xaar. It will offer two product families: Crystal Ink for graphics and Jetstream for marking and coding.


Both Xaar and SunJet will sell the inks. They will be sold to equipment manufacturers for resale and directly to printers.


SunJets site in Midsomer Norton, where it develops and manufactures inks, is set to double in size and the firm will create a number of new jobs by the end of the year.


Story by Jeremy Allen