Printing Systems

The printing and media sector is undergoing radical changes. There is a significant trend towards individualised and personalised low-quantity products. To deal with these small print runs on a cost-effective basis while retaining high quality levels, digital printing is a significant factor in an industrial environment too. There is no need to create printing plates, since inkjet printing is a non-impact digital printing process which applies the ink to different substrates. 

In this connection, the droplets are created using the following technologies:

  • Continuous single- or multiple-jet inkjet printing
  • Discontinuous drop-on-demand printing, piezoelectrically, thermally, electrostatically or acoustically

After creating the ink droplets, they exit the print head at a defined speed. The structures of inkjet print heads differ depending on the process. This means that when developing special inks it is also essential to consider the print head technology and to adapt it if necessary to avoid the print head from failing due to the jets being blocked (cogation).

A great deal of experience is available on the nanoInk network of developing and manufacturing printing systems and embedding them in industrial manufacturing processes. Combining different printing systems like digital and offset printing, for example, is implemented to use the benefits of both printing systems.