Konica Minolta has developed three new industrial inkjet printheads that adopt its independently developed MEMS technologies. Mass production is planned to start in the spring of 2016.
The new inkjet printheads deliver higher resolution, higher accuracy and more enhanced jet characteristics than the existing printheads, while Konica Minolta’s independently developed MEMS technologies have realised the compact size and compatibility with a wide range of inks.
Konica Minolta’s independently developed MEMS technologies have enabled 1024 nozzles to be arrayed three-dimensionally in high density. Furthermore, the company’s proprietary robust design has realised both high-resolution and high-accuracy inkjet printheads.
Based on Konica Minolta’s long-fostered material technologies and highly heat-resistant design, the new printheads have improved resistance with inks, ranging from low-viscosity inks (aqueous inks) to high-viscosity inks (including UV inks and solvent inks), and are compatible with every industrial ink.
As the new printheads can print with higher resolution than existing products, they have improved applicability to commercial printing and label printing which require higher definition. They can also be used for PE and other applications that need higher jetting accuracy.
Konica Minolta has been active in the research and development of industrial inkjet technologies for more than 30 years. The company has developed not only MEMS process technology and inkjet printhead design technologies, but also a robotic assembling system, a new production technology for mass production.
Industrial inkjet has been rapidly expanding its scope of applications, ranging from commercial and graphic printing to digital textile printing, ceramic printing and PE, among others. For further growth of the market, it has become essential to address technical challenges such as higher resolution, improved image quality, higher speed, enhanced durability and compatibility with a wider variety of inks.
With the introduction of these new products, Konica Minolta meets the market’s needs for higher performance inkjet printheads and will contribute to further growth of the printer market and development of new industrial inkjet applications.