About one year ago, Agfa announced that it would not only become a world leader in digital printing, but that it would do so with inkjet technology. To prove the point, Agfa highlighted its acquisition of industrial inkjet press maker, :Dotrix, and announced its intention to collaborate on various projects with three key inkjet technology developers: Mutoh (wide-format engines), Thieme (screen presses) and Xaar (piezo print heads). Why has Agfa put its
money on inkjet to be the winner in the digital printing race? And how far has the company progressed in turning its intentions into reality? Below, Jan Van Daele, Chief Technology Officer for Agfa’s inkjet business gives us the inside track on Agfa’s strategy for digital printing.

“Agfa’s commitment to the digital printing market has never been stronger. In May, at Fespa 05, we introduced the fruits of our partnerships. With Thieme we developed the M-Press, a flatbed press for screen printing and wide-format applications. With Xaar we produced advanced, high capacity universal print heads (UPH). And with Mutoh, we designed the :Anapurna wide-format display printer. We also unveiled the first in our new line of inks :Anuvia UV curable and :Aldura fourth-generation solvent inks. Another UV curable ink called :Agorix has already been successfully implemented on the entire :Dotrix installed base.

“The :Dotrix press is Agfa’s high-speed, full-colour inkjet press for industrial applications. Both the M-Press digital screen press and the :Anapurna wide-format industrial printer use Agfa’s new :Anuvia ink. The new :Grand Sherpa Universal AM wide-format printer uses Agfa’s fourth-generation solvent inks.”

Why inkjet? “Inkjet technology offers several advantages for digital printing. Inkjet uses fluid ink that more closely matches the characteristics and properties of traditional ink. No other print technology is so widely used or so versatile. Many different types of ink (pigment, dye, UV curable, solvent, multi-density, etc.) have already been developed for a variety of applications—indoor and outdoor displays, packaging, proofing, marking and coding, textiles, etc. And manufacturers keep developing new ones. “Unlike dry or liquid toner, inkjet technology is non-impact and offers a wide window or area of operation. You are not limited by size or dimension. You can print anything that fits under the inkjet heads. They can be mounted on a continuous production line, so that printing is part of the converting process rather than an extra and very time-intensive step. You can print directly on shaped metals, for example, folded and filled boxes, plastics extrusions, and so on.

“The compact size of the print heads allows us to incorporate the technology processes. So the know-how and the experience we have in inkjet can be applied to other systems and applications.

“The advantage for Agfa is that we have experience in so many forms of imaging. So Agfa is in the perfect position to know how and where to apply its inkjet knowledge. Inkjet brings printers the best of both worlds. They can enjoy the similarities inkjet has with traditional processes, and at the same time, reap the benefits of a new production paradigm. Inkjet will simplify processes and raise efficiencies to new levels. No more plates, chemicals, long job changeover times, make-ready. It’s direct-to-anything you like, really.”

Market focus
“Agfa will focus on the industrial, packaging, commercial and newspaper printing markets because they fit with Agfa’s core experience. Agfa has been serving these markets for generations. We understand their needs and dynamics. Agfa’s imaging experience, workflow solutions, chemical and substrate know-how, and customer support network, combined with our jointly developed inkjet technology make very powerful production solutions for the print provider.

“This year, Agfa will introduce more inkjet products than ever before. The first target market is industrial printing (packaging, point-of-purchase, labels, displays, decorative and screen printing, etc.). But soon we’ll introduce exciting solutions for other printing applications as well.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with innovative digital printing technology and workflow efficiencies that will allow them to attract new business and grow profitably.”

This article has been reproduced from a feature in Agfa’s: Interface issue 34. If you would like a copy please email patsy.nolan@agfa.com.

W: www.agfa.com