Xaar's drupa presentation rewrites the rulebook for textile inkjet printing

Xaar is inviting visitors at drupa to hear how the latest inkjet technologies are rewriting the rulebook for textile printing in a presentation to be made as part of the show’s touchpoint textile forum.

Speaking on 3rd June at 13.50 in hall 4, Karl Forbes, Xaar Group’s R&D Director, will show how its Aquinox printhead, utilising Xaar’s Ultra High Viscosity printing and patented High Laydown Technology, is transforming productivity in digital textile printing.

The presentation will show how Xaar’s collaborative work with global ink developer and manufacturer Nazdar has enabled the creation of a unique high viscosity, pigmented water-based inkset – the HighV Aqua Tex – that will deliver disruptive performance benefits in the Direct-to-Garment (DTG) sector.

Chemists at Nazdar were able to produce a new fluid technology that can deliver clarity and high pigment loading while simultaneously reducing the use of raw materials and energy costs. Vibrant, colour-rich textiles can now be achieved by using half the traditional amount of ink and printhead passes, delivering significant machine productivity savings.

Notably, Nazdar’s new HighV Aqua Series includes a high viscosity white ink, which when coupled with the TF Technology embedded within Xaar’s Aquinox printhead, provides customers with quality textile printing at an efficiency that was previously unmatched.

Drupa will also see Xaar technology across the show – including its recent collaboration with Koenig & Bauer Kammann (Kammann) to create personalised embossed effects on glass bottles, plastic and metal containers at a build height of up to 3mm. Utilising Xaar’s Nitrox printheads with new high viscosity fluids developed by global ink manufacturer Marabu, Kammann’s machines can jet at greater viscosity and carry a significantly increased pigment load, delivering more colour vibrancy and capturing fine details with up to 50 per cent less ink.

Colours no longer need pinning, delivering significant savings in the time required for printing, as well as reductions in energy and material use. Overall, the speed of production can be more than doubled, making inkjet printing a greater reality for a much wider variety of decorative applications.

Commenting on the exhibition, Karl Forbes said, “drupa is the perfect show for visitors to hear how Xaar’s inkjet technology is enabling the development of new fluids and providing access to the many potential benefits of digital printing.

“From UV inks requiring less curing energy to aqueous inks containing high pigment loading and a lower ratio of water, inkjet is now able to deliver the performance, sustainability and innovation demanded, rewriting the rulebook for textile printing and many other applications.”