Xaar’s new 502 printheads featuring PrecisionPlus and TF Technology ensure coding and marking original ink manufacturers (OEMs) can offer a premium, fast, reliable, high-contrast coder fit to meet printing environment challenges.
The printhead uses Xaar’s latest piezoelectric drop-on-demand bulk technology actuator design, PrecisionPlus, which provides a long throw distance and increases stability and robustness of the printhead. Combined with the optimised nozzle guard to support automated maintenance routines, this printhead is ideally positioned for use in demanding and harsh factory environments.
Also incorporated into the Xaar 502 is Xaar’s unrivalled TF Technology, which can be run in full through flow mode or pulsed mode. This optional new mode recirculates ink behind the nozzles during non-printing periods only, ensuring maximum reliability, good performance, high energy efficiency and market-leading printhead lifespan.
PrecisionPlus and TF Technology enable fully optimised actuator performance, supporting printing in multiple orientations, such as skyscraper (vertical printing) mode, delivering high drop volume as well as accurate drop placement for exceptional print quality, high speed of print and excellent reliability.
The Xaar 502 GS15O is compatible with a range of oil-based inks popular for use in coding and marking applications, including the latest addition to Xaar’s ink portfolio, black mineral oil-free (MOF) SunJet IK822. This ink is designed for use on secondary packaging, delivering high quality and optical density on a wide range of porous and semi-porous substrates. As this ink is vegetable oil-based rather than mineral-oil based, it offers two key benefits: improved handling safety and easy break down during recycling. This is of particular interest to environmentally and safety conscious brand owners and retailers.
‘With the combination of Xaar 502 GS15O and the SunJet MOF ink, we feel we have the premium piezo inkjet coding and marking offering that provides not only consistently high resolution and reliability but also high contrast on porous and semi-porous substrates,’ said Simon Kirk, senior product manager at Xaar. ‘The Xaar 502 GS15O gives a coding and marking OEM the ability to provide a cost-effective piezo coder offering that can achieve a 70mm print swathe, a highly accurate drop placement and a higher throw distance than previously achieved with Xaar printheads, while maintaining productivity.’
