New Application of Industrial Inkjet Printing Technology

This article introduces the inkjet printing industry, which is transforming itself, from previous home and office inkjet printing to the production of labels and bar codes, CAD drawings, and large-format image printing. Below we will introduce one by one the latest applications of inkjet printing.

Scientists at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom are developing a new technology - using inkjet systems - to print live human stem cells on wounded patients. That is, doctors should transplant patients with alternative cells to make them grow into suitable ones. Size, shape, play a corresponding role in order to complete the treatment. If stem cells are taken from the patient's own body, the chance of it being rejected by the body will be significantly reduced. Brian Derby, a materials specialist in Manchester, believes that the University of Manchester has successfully used this particular technology to store and cultivate human osteoblasts and fibroblasts that are used to form bone and muscle tissue. Derby said: “We are very interested in those cartilage, bones and vascular tissue. Skin is also an application area, but even if printing has entered this field, it is not our research focus. Our team is working with the development of print heads. Xaar works closely together to perfect inkjet printing equipment for the delivery of human cells such as bone repair or cell transplantation."

If we hear the above story in an isolated place, it may surprise us, be curious, etc. But this is not a fictional story. The inkjet printing technology is breaking through the conventions and entering many magical and unfamiliar markets such as: biotechnology, bioengineering, law, metal deposition, microstructure manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, networking, pharmaceuticals, glass, ceramics Decoration and display manufacturing and other areas - simply can not be listed.

The problem is that these exciting things are very trivial and lack a scope or focus. Yes, I admit that there are some research groups whose efforts are very serious. For example, IMI in Geneva recently held a workshop entitled “Commercialization of inkjet printing technology as a manufacturing process”. Despite this, these seminars also have limitations, that is, they seem to form an interesting forum for communication between inkjet printer manufacturers, an "old boys' club" in the inkjet printing industry. The purpose of this kind of conference organizer is to attract new members and users of potential new businesses to the interest of inkjet technology within a certain range and advertising budget - unless these new members and end users have experienced inkjet technology The benefits, or participation in the conference through the introduction of their digital partners.

So, next, we must emphasize two things. First, what can effectively promote the development of industrial inkjet printing technology? Second, if we are already exposed to inkjet technology in some traditional screen printing markets - either as a manufacturer, distributor or graphic and textile processor - why do we actively see inkjet technology? Industry development? I would like to answer the second question first and I would like to take this opportunity to establish contact with more readers.

The importance of the industrial market
In on-demand inkjet printing, only four companies have a truly large (millions of) printhead inventory: HP, Epson, Canon, and Lexmark. This is because only these four companies have successfully sold their print heads to the office and consumer inkjet markets. By adjusting the threshold for ink jet cartridges to enter the above market, these companies already have the economic power to invest in new printhead technology and high-quality manufacturing processes. For example, the price of a nozzle on a print head has dropped to a very low level. Level up.

From the perspective of the performance of these manufacturers, the current manufacturer of three print heads is limited by the thermal DOD technology, which limits their choice of water-based inkjet materials with lower viscosity. As a result, these companies are also excluded from most potential industrial applications and markets. Epson's print head is a piezoelectric, drop-on-demand (DOD) printhead. Although it is difficult to obtain Epson print heads, it also has certain industrial application potential.

The second problem is that the size of the droplets ejected by all the above print heads is very small, which may also be a limitation in its industrial applications. In screen printing, we need large, medium, and small meshes to print the ink on the surface of the substrate according to different needs; similarly, we also need nozzles with different diameters and different ejection frequencies in the inkjet printing field. Meet different needs. The mass production we mentioned earlier is not yet able to serve the public of new industries.

This also leaves room for Spectra, Xaar, Ricoh (formerly Hitachi), Konica and other industrial inkjet printer manufacturers that produce high-output printheads. But this also has the bad aspect, that is because these print heads are relatively not mass produced, the manufacturer's cost is relatively high. As these industrial manufacturers have to develop a variety of different inkjet print heads to meet the needs of different markets, so this problem will continue to increase, more affect their production, increase their development costs. The end result is two, either the print head is very expensive or the print head manufacturer is profitable by selling the ink, which puts the money into R&D and production technology.

So why are printers and suppliers involved in inkjet printing of graphics or texts urgently needed to develop industrial inkjet technology? Because this can ensure that the output of the print head manufacturers continues to increase, thus ensuring that the price of nozzles and printing inks continues to decline, making inkjet printers more attractive for large-volume print production and a wider range of customer bases.

Promote the expansion of industrial inkjet technology
Now we can go back to the first question: "What can effectively promote the development of industrial inkjet printing technology?" This seems to contain two problems: that is, the exchange between companies that benefit from industrial inkjet technology. And awakening.

In terms of images, we have held many trade shows and conferences to attract traditional inkjet printing business. Of course, we no longer need to do this now. However, the situation in industrial inkjet is very different from that of traditional inkjet. There is currently no industrial inkjet technology exhibition that can really attract new customers, and no one can clearly know who is the target and how to find the target in such exhibitions or conferences. There are many trade shows on biotechnology, medicine, packaging, electronics and other traditional industries, but there are few such exhibitions on industrial inkjet technology. For special print head/ink/hardware manufacturers, the cost of investors to open up new markets is very high, and the ROI preparation time is also very long. In some cases, inkjet technology may compete with other technologies, and in the early days of awakening, the foundation of traditional manufacturers seems more threatening than opportunity. We have seen this reaction in the image industry before.

This has led to heated discussions about the notion that “We need a pure new exhibition and meeting atmosphere for industrial inkjet technology”. This requires a place where entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, inkjet technology companies, leading education and research institutions, and innovative technology users can meet, exchange views, and develop opportunities for ink jet technology development.

In my opinion, there are two trade organizations that can explain and understand these goals based on their experiences in industrial applications for screen printing and gravure printing and their understanding of the inkjet printing industry. They are professional printing associations. Graphic Imaging Association and its European unit, FESPA.

The establishment of industrial inkjet technology requires a lot of investment, and it cannot guarantee to anyone that it will succeed immediately. The above two organizations can only guarantee to their members that this project may be successful in the near future. In the initial stage of success, these organizations need to strengthen cooperation with the organizers of competitive digital exhibitions. As such a new industry, we cannot make it fail.

I also want to tell developers and manufacturers of print heads, hardware, media, ink, and software that if you want to invite organizations like SGIA and FESPA to help you more effectively promote industrial inkjet technology, you need to Give them enough money to do this. You need to make sure that they are spending your money the way you like, and that you also ask a veteran in this area to help you set goals and directions for them.

Inkjet is such a widely used industry. If we can improve the way funds and resources are allocated and invest in its new technologies, then it will certainly bring us opportunities for career development and long-term economic benefits. I think this is the time to make it bigger before everyone starts to scramble for this piece of cake.

Reprinted from: Xinhua Printing Network