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.”
Neil Cook participated in CCE International in March in Munich, Germany. He presented “Is inkjet now able to revolutionize digital printing of corrugates?”
