Consumables
FFEI CHOOSES XAAR 1001 PRINTHEADS TO DRIVE NEW GRAPHIUM DIGITAL UV INKJET PRESS
Tuesday 24. September 2013 - Xaar 1001 printheads have been specified by FFEI Ltd for the next-generation Graphium digital inkjet UV press. The FFEI Graphium will be distributed by Fujifilm in Europe and North America with Fujifilm Uvijet Graphium UV inks.
The FFEI Graphium, designed for labels, packaging and speciality print, is a modular, 4-colour narrow web, digital UV inkjet press with additional high-opacity digital white ink and flexo varnish capability.
The Graphium was shown for the first time by Fujifilm and FFEI at Print 13 in Chicago last week, where it won the ‘Best of Category’ MUST SEE ‘EM award for Digital Presses. The press will make its European debut on the Fujifilm stand at Labelexpo in Brussels (24-27th September).
The press combines innovative prepress software, UV ink and Xaar 1001 printheads with cutting-edge printhead calibration technology to deliver consistent print quality and reliable production. Print speeds of up to 50m/min on a 410mm web width delivers productivity up to 1,230 sqm/hr. Supporting up to six digital modules and six flexo stations, Graphium enables users to integrate optional flexo and finishing stations in line for conversion in a single pass.
During development of the new press, FFEI worked closely with the Xaar R&D team to ensure that Graphium maximises the full capability of the unique Xaar 1001 printhead technology. The press uses specialist Fujifilm Uvijet Graphium UV inks which have been carefully specified and matched to the Xaar 1001 to deliver reliable jetting performance.
Digital label printing requires a printhead that delivers high-resolution print quality at maximum performance and with maximum reliability. When printing high-opacity white layers it is important that the high viscosity, heavily-pigmented ink is kept in constant motion within the printhead to avoid nozzle blocking. The Xaar 1001 features Xaar’s patented TF Technology combined with Hybrid Side Shooter architecture which delivers the highest flow rate of CMYK and white inks past the back of the inkjet nozzle during drop ejection. As a result, pigments are kept in constant suspension, any air bubbles and particles are removed, and the printhead remains continuously primed to deliver maximum production uptime – even in the harshest industrial environments.
The Xaar 1001 also incorporates XaarDOT (Xaar Drop Optimisation Technology) and 8-level greyscale capability which allows Graphium users to achieve a perceived resolution of 1080dpi. This is essential for high-quality, single pass printing of labels and packaging materials.
“We chose the Xaar 1001 because it delivers the best all-round performance for industrial-level single-pass label printing and is perfect for handling challenging white ink”, says Andy Cook, FFEI Managing Director. “Xaar’s support has been invaluable and they have made a huge contribution towards making Graphium such a superb press. There is just no other printhead that could deliver Graphium’s performance and day-in, day-out reliability with low maintenance.”