Fujifilm to use drupa as platform to unveil digital inkjet printing solutions strategy

Fujifilm Corporation will use drupa 2012 as a platform to unveil its latest strategy for digital inkjet printing solutions. With its market leading R&D investments in inkjet printhead and digital ink technologies, Fujifilm is focused on becoming the global leader in digital inkjet printing technology for the commercial, packaging and wide format market segments.

As part of this strategy, Fujifilm is developing ink technologies with performance capabilities specifically tailored to different market applications, and will be using drupa 2012 as the launch platform for a brand new range of high performance inks called “VIVIDIA”. With performance characteristics tailored to the commercial and packaging print segments, this range of state-of-the-art inks has been developed specifically to complement the company’s growing range of single pass digital inkjet presses.

Over the last four years, Fujifilm has also continued to improve its class-leading SAMBATM printhead for single pass printing applications, the only printhead in the world able to produce a native resolution of 1200 dpi. This printhead has now been engineered to have a longer life and operate with even higher precision. With its compact and modular design, it is now able to meet the needs of a variety of system specifications and is suitable for replacement in the field.

At drupa 2012, Fujifilm will showcase two different implementations of the company’s market leading VIVIDIA digital ink and SAMBATM printhead technologies. In the Commercial Print Zone, Fujifilm will feature the Jet Press 720 which utilises the company’s high performance VIVIDIA AQ ink and SAMBATM printhead. This groundbreaking system was first demonstrated as a technology display at drupa 2008, and is now commercially available worldwide with installations in Japan, United States and Canada.

In the Package Print Zone, and premiering at drupa 2012, Fujifilm will unveil a B2 digital inkjet printing solution specifically designed for the folding carton packaging segment. Utilising high performance VIVIDIA UV ink and a different implementation of the SAMBATM printhead technology, this solution has been developed to meet the specific needs of the folding carton industry in terms of print stock and finishing requirements.

In the wide format printing segment, Fujifilm Uvijet branded UV inks are already widely recognised for their colour gamut, vibrancy and performance, and the company was recently proud to announce an award for the Best Process Plant in the UK Best Factory Awards 2011, at its Broadstairs site where these inks are manufactured. Fujifilm will continue to develop its Uvijet ink brand to support its market leading wide format printers such as the Inca Onset and Fujifilm Acuity Advance and Acuity LED 1600 ranges. These developments will be exhibited in the Wide Format Print Zone at drupa 2012, and include a new Uvijet ink specifically developed to support the low energy characteristics of the Acuity LED 1600 printer. The Fujifilm Uvijet range also includes inks that support high adhesion for a diversified range of applications, a flexible ink which exhibits excellent performance in post press operations, and a highly ductile and super-flexible ink for decorated forming. Fujifilm will make additional announcements in these areas prior to drupa 2012.

This combination of state-of-the-art printhead design from FUJIFILM Dimatix, together with the company’s high performance VIVIDIA and Uvijet digital ink ranges, will form the class leading platform to enable Fujifilm to develop future generations of digital inkjet printing solutions.