58   Sign Update      ISSUE 190 MARCH 2020

    SIGN   News

Five-step service for inkjet fluid evaluation

Once samples have been produced, stage 4 moves to upscaling the development application, focusing on providing the relevant Xaar inkjet system. Stage 5 completes each project, providing continued support and delivering application improvements, testing and advice. Xaar’s five-step service is currently enabling companies to evaluate the jetting

of fluids with high viscosities. Most inkjet printheads are capable of jetting materials with viscosities with a range of 10-25 mPa.s (10-25 cP). Now, thanks to improvements in Xaar’s TF technology, fluids which have significantly higher viscosities can be successfully jetted through Xaar’s printheads. www.xaar.com

Xaar has launched its five-step service for the evaluation of fluids for use in new product development. The service aims to help companies establish the suitability of inkjet technology and fluids in new applications without incurring large upfront costs. To support the service, Xaar has invested in a dedicated laboratory equipped with custom test rigs for sample production and fluid testing including a Notion Systems n.jet 3D printer.   Each new project starts with the initial fluid evaluation where guidance is provided on issues such as ink development and material compatibility and options for complex rheology testing and fluid physicals measurement. Stage 2 moves to jetting optimisation encompassing printhead waveform configuration alongside application and fluid optimisation. Stage 3 involves actual sample production utilising one of the custom test rigs. 3D and other advanced sample production is made possible using a Notions Systems n.jet printer and Xaar 1003 GS12 printheads. This Photopolymer Jetting (PPJ) machine is capable of printing layers between 0.0185mm and 0.0025mm, taking approximately six seconds per layer, enabling features as small as 0.1mm.

Xaar’s 5-step service is currently enabling companies to evaluate the jetting of fluids with high viscosities.

Durst restructures textile printing segment

“The digital textile printing market is fragmented in itself and we see different speeds and developments worldwide,” says Dr Kappaun. “While new, non- industry service providers often already have digital know-how but less textile experience, the traditional manufacturers are masters of textile finishing but not all analog processing steps can be transferred directly to digital textile printing. “Durst has a comprehensive ecosystem to serve different requirements and support customers in the digital transformation. Our printing systems are designed for industrial productivity but offer profitability from the very first meter.” Dr Kappaun succeeds Martin Winkler in his expanded role as segment manager textile printing, who will take on the role of global sales manager textile printing some time in the future. www.durst-group.com

Durst has restructured its segment for industrial textile printing with manager Dr Stefan Kappaun taking responsibility for the strategic direction in home textiles, clothing and accessories while acting as a link to the large format segment which takes over soft signage and fabrics in the portfolio. Dr Kappaun is an expert in materials science and the development and marketing of ink systems for digital inkjet printing. This know-how is particularly important within industrial textile printing because different materials, pre- and post-treatments as well as large- scale process influences, represent a daily challenge in digital textile production. At the same time, digital textile printing is one of the largest growth markets for inkjet technologies targeted by advertising media and large format providers in addition to traditional textile producers. All have different textile experiences but are always looking for new applications and business opportunities.

With the Alpha Series, Durst offers industrial printing systems with water- based reactive, pigment and disperse inks as well as with the pixel-to-output strategy end-to-end software solutions for efficient and cost-transparent digital textile printing.

Dr Stefan Kappaun acts as a link to the large format segment which takes over soft signage and fabrics in the portfolio.