Inkjet technology company Xaar is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its 128 printhead.
Inkjet technology company Xaar is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its 128 printhead.
Initially conceptualized for use in desktop fax machines, it proved to be better suited for other sectors due to its combination of reliability, ease of integration, speed, and quality of print. It quickly became a firm favourite in the coding, marking, and wide-format graphics markets.
Its compact footprint and light carriage weight of only 16 g (0.6 oz), combined with its simple electronic interface, enables quick and easy integration into printers by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
The accessory can be used for printing outdoor or indoor graphics, barcodes, outer case carton coders, or poster printing, the Xaar 128 and its compatibility with many ink types positioned it as one of the leading 17-mm (0.7-in.) piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads. With its ability to handle printing of fluids with a range of viscosity, reactivity, and conductivity the printhead is also used in advanced manufacturing and 3D market sectors.
Having more than 1.5 million Xaar 128 printheads in the market, the success of the item was marked with the cutting of a ‘birthday’ cake at the company’s factory in Huntingdon, U.K., where it is manufactured.
“The longevity of the Xaar 128 and its relevance in today’s market is testament to the cutting-edge technology it deployed 20 years ago,” said the company’s chief operating officer (COO) Graham Tweedale. “The fact we are celebrating its birthday and seeing new applications is a real source of pride for us and demonstrates the impact of Xaar’s investment and lead in industrial inkjet technologies.”
