The Cambridge-headquartered inkjet head developer said the introduction of the new printheads was in line with its 2020 vision – which it outlined in its year-end results last week – and reiterated its commitment to investing significantly in research and development.
The new printheads are aimed at applications including ceramic tile decoration, labelling, direct-to-shape and other packaging printing, the production of wood laminates, glass printing and other manufacturing processes.
Xaar said the 1003 printhead upgrades enable higher productivity, versatility and superior performance compared to predecessors, the 1001 and 1002 models.
Upgrades include XaarGuard nozzle plate protection, which the manufacturer claims provides the longest maintenance-free production runs in the industry.
Consistent print quality is also improved across the wide print widths used in many single-pass applications due to Xaar’s new X-ACT Micro Electric Mechanical Systems (MEMS) manufacturing process.
Like its predecessors, the 1003 printheads combine Xaar's TF Technology with its Hybrid Side Shooter architecture so that ink is recirculated directly past the back of the nozzle during drop ejection at what the manufacturer claims are the highest flow rates in the industry.
This, Xaar said, ensures that the printhead operates reliably even in harsh industrial environments and also in horizontal and vertical jetting modes. Ink is in constant circulation, preventing sedimentation and subsequent blocking of the nozzles when jetting.
Xaar director of marketing Gillian Ewers told PrintWeek: “The Xaar 1003 printhead family is the next step forward. We haven’t completely stopped shipping 1002 yet but our intention is to move all of our customers onto the 1003 because of the additional benefits.
“We continue to work very closely with both our OEM and ink partners and listen very carefully to what challenges they are facing with the end-market. We’re continuously trying to refresh and upgrade and bring a better product to them.”
The Xaar 1003 will be available in three variants, in response to market demand.
The GS12 for rich colours or higher speeds in ceramics applications will start shipping on 4 April and will be followed by the GS6 for fine detail, the GS40 for special effects and other variants for UV applications, which will be commercially available from the end of May.
The 1003 printheads will be shown at Drupa in Düsseldorf from 31 May to 10 June. The firm said it will also host more launches at the show, though did not reveal any further details.
Earlier this year Xaar launched a new large-droplet UV printhead, targeted at high-build applications in labels and packaging.
