Wide-format printer manufacturer Durst already uses Ricoh Gen 5 inkjet printheads in its Alpha textiles printing systems and the Durst P5 series. As part of this new deal, in future Ricoh printheads will also be further developed for upcoming Durst printing systems for the company’s various fields of application.

Christian Compera, global general manager of Ricoh’s Industrial Print business, said: “The partnership will allow us to develop our printheads in a more focused way with real-world requirements. Often there can be a high level of protectiveness surrounding printhead intellectual property, materials and printhead production technologies as well as ink formulations.

“By bringing together the Ricoh and Durst development teams, we share the goal of continuously improving the entire printing system, which ultimately benefits customers.”

Durst Group CEO and co-owner Christoph Gamper added: “This deal reaffirms and continues a collaborative approach with Ricoh. Extending our partnership with Ricoh enables us to achieve a faster time-to-market for new printing systems, as we work together on the perfect interaction of printheads, inks and substrates.

“Not only does this allow us to achieve maximum print quality and performance but also to guarantee reliability for extended printer life. It gives our customers a clear basis for their investment decisions, without the risk factor of the printhead.”

Ricoh and Durst will collaborate on developing printheads as well as printers, to open up potential for inkjet technology and address the needs of emerging applications.

New ways of using inkjet technologies and materials for enhanced sustainability, such as lower drying energy consumption, are already being explored and further collaborative initiatives will be revealed in the coming months.