By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Digital printing offers a non-contact solution for decorating glass and ceramics while producing high-quality output and reducing tile breakage. Digital adoption’s success in the glass and ceramic market creates opportunity for manufacturing companies.
Here, we feature the most recent and popular printers and printheads available for ceramic and glass printing in the industrial space.
EFI
For digital tile decoration, EFI offers the EFI Cretaprint inkjet printers for simplification of high-quality manufacturing. The Cretaprint series offers a maximum printing width at 1,850 millimeters (mm) with the Cretaprint X4. It reaches up to 360 dpi with speeds up to 50 meters per minute (m/min).
Jose Luis Ramon Moreno, VP/GM, EFI Industrial Printing, says, “EFI provides a complete, dedicated solution to the tile industry, from entry level to very high end, based on an integrated eco-system that ensures the ability to choose the best configuration for each application or organization.”
Cretaprint systems are designed to accommodate the specific requirements of operating in ceramic plants. This includes facilities that operate 24/7 in dusty, harsh industrial environments with steam.
Moreno believes EFI’s inks for digital ceramic printing provide exceptional results. “Cretaprint users get the advantage of a long shelf life, predictable running costs, and high performance and reliability with those dedicated inks,” he explains.
The EFI Ecosystem includes inks and the EFI Fiery proServer for Cretaprint which Moreno believes gives users the ability to match many of the patterns used in ceramic decoration while using less ink compared with other digital printers.
“EFI Cretaprint technologies are successful in this space because we develop systems that are cost effective with analog even at long run lengths. The systems also offer versatility in that they are limited to flat tiles and can print textured applications for extra value.”
Dip-Tech, a Ferro Company
Dip-Tech’s NEra Series is a glass printing solution that prints high-speed applications without changing ink tanks. It features up to 12 ink channels and variable drop size for high-image quality and application flexibility.
“Dip-Tech printing technology combines the advantages of ceramic inks for glass and the wide format vivid digital printing process,” says Yuval Nahum, head of marketing, Dip-Tech.
The printing solution reaches resolutions up to 1,410 dpi with a maximum glass size of 3,300×6,000 millimeters. NEra features high-power dual-technology drop fixation, fully refurbishable printhead components, stainless steel nozzle plates, and stationary glass printing for accuracy and optimized footprint.
“When using Dip-Tech printers, the digital ceramic ink fuses into the glass during tempering and becomes one without the need for adhesion promoters,” says Nahum. The NEra uses SPECTRUM Sense inks for improved glass appearance. Its glass scanning configurations detect and adjust the printing to the glass’ actual size. The solution also offers a fully integrated inline dryer.
According to Nahum, “the new generation printers by Dip-Tech, the NEra, allow high throughput and high quality at the same time, which is comparable to screenprinting in most applications, with all the digital advantages.”
KERAjet
The KERAjet P7 plotter is an inkjet printer designed for printing ceramic applications. It uses digital print technology for printing with ceramic pigments, soluble salts, effects, solid applications, glazes, and UV inks.
The KERAjet P7 offers a maximum horizontal and vertical resolution of 1,200 dpi. Its applications include ink colors, glues, glazes, lusters, metallic inks, grain, and matte and gloss effects.
The printer creates a specific system for laboratory prototypes and manufactures special products. “It’s valid for the development of small series or special products to be implemented inline with high productivity,” says Amadeo Capuz, commercial technician, KERAjet.
KERAjet P7 can be configurated with automatic belt, multi-head technology, movil bench, or an active ink system. It uses up to 12 inks configured in 24 printing units at eight levels of grayscale.
The KERAjet P7 uses MINI K, a user interface software program made by KERAjet. MINI K enables controlling and monitoring of transport movements, ink system, and design management. The software transfers images to the print unit.
The KERAjet P7 is available in two formats—the P7 1200 and P7 2400.
Xaar
Updated in June 2017, the Xaar 2001+ printheads are available in three drop size ranges—the GS6C, GS12C, and GS40C—that jet one color at 720 dpi or two colors at 360 dpi each. The printheads are intended for a range of ceramic tile designs and patterns.
“The Xaar 2001+ printhead family delivers the best all-round performance on the market for both color decoration and effects,” says Gerard Winn, senior product manager, Xaar. The printheads deliver 2,000 nozzles, high-line speed, laydown, and resolution.
Xaar 2001+ reaches print speeds up to 50 m/min at 360 dpi or 25 m/min at 720 dpi. Color decoration at 30, 35, 40, and 50 m/min is also possible.
“It offers the most production flexibility to tile manufacturers, meaning they can easily keep up with changing design trends,” says Winn. The Xaar 2001+ GS6C is used to produce fine detail color decoration for wall tiles while the GS12C provides balance between printing details and obtaining more laydown for color decoration of floor tiles. The GS40C jets the highest laydown for special effects.
According to Winn, decoration printers can be configured in single- or dual-color mode. Single-color mode is used for printing primary colors and effects while dual-color mode is used for printing secondary colors. “Alternatively, it is possible to specify a decoration machine using a combination of printheads working in single and dual-color mode,” he adds.
Printed for Style
Today’s available ceramic and glass digital printing solutions grant manufacturers design freedom. As digital technology for ceramic production continues to advance, manufacturers are provided a level of comfort while ensuring durability and top-quality results.
Click here to read part two of this exclusive online series, Digitally Elegant
Oct2017, Industrial Print Magazine