Cambridge, UK-based
inkjet printhead specialist celebrates its 30th birthday and its role in
pioneering the use of industrial inkjet technologies.
‘30 years is a
significant milestone for any business, and we were all extremely keen to mark
the occasion and celebrate our accomplishments as a team – despite many of us
still working in separate locations,’ said John Mills, CEO of Xaar. ‘It has
been a real joy reviewing the many achievements from over the last 30 years and
through this, acknowledging the unique heritage, we have in the development and
use of inkjet technology worldwide.’
‘While I have only
recently joined Xaar as CEO, it is clear to me that the team at Xaar has always
been fundamental to delivering our vision, and I have been extremely impressed
with their expertise and commitment. Celebrating our 30th birthday recognizes
all their efforts. We are proud to be a leader in inkjet technologies and very
much look forward to achieving our next significant milestones,’ concluded
Mills.
Xaar was initially
founded in 1990 by a team of four including Mike Willis and Mark Shepherd. The
goal was to commercialize the work done at Cambridge Consultants by Steve
Temple and David Paton, the inventors of Xaar’s piezoelectric drop-on-demand
technology; both of whom also joined the company.
The company signed
its first commercial agreement in 1991 with Brother Industries who licensed the
technology to develop home office printers and fax machines. By 1992 Xaar had
reached a significant milestone, surpassing GBP 1m in sales achieved from
license fees, the sale of evaluation kits and technical consultancy.
The development and
manufacture of inkjet printheads became an equally important part of Xaar’s
success. The company’s early product range, which included the Xaar 128 and
Xaar 500, was instrumental in the growth of the digital graphics and the coding
and marking industries around the world.
The launch of the
Xaar 1001 represented another significant advance in inkjet technology. The
printhead’s unique architecture, Xaar’s Hybrid Side Shooter, enabled ink
recirculation both behind the nozzle and throughout the entire channel (Xaar’s
unique TF Technology). These delivered a step change in printing reliability
and drove the digital transformation of the ceramic tile manufacturing market
in the 2000s.
The company’s first
printheads were manufactured in Järfälla, Sweden, and in 2007, Xaar opened its
new factory in Huntingdon, UK, initially for the manufacture of the Xaar 1001
and where over GBP 60 million has been invested since production first began.
Investment in
R&D has always been central to Xaar’s progress as an independent business
and now represents around 11 percent of business revenue. This focus on R&D
has resulted in over 2000 patent applications being filed by the company during
its 30-year history, and the development of groundbreaking inkjet printheads
and technologies that have contributed to the global expansion of inkjet
printing.
Recent innovations
have included high laydown technology, which enables deposition of large
quantities of fluid at high line speeds, and ultra-high viscosity, which allows
fluids with significantly higher viscosities – up to 100 centipoise at typical
operating temperatures of around 40˚C to 50˚C – to be jetted. Such developments
have increased the flexibility of the Xaar ceramics portfolio and opened growth
in new sectors such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
As part of its
celebrations Xaar has been delving into its archives and is sharing memories of
major milestones throgh its social media channels. A particular highlight was
the company’s nomination for a Queen’s Award in 1995 and an appearance on the
BBC’s ‘Tomorrow’s World’ TV program, introduced by Prince Charles. In 2005,
Xaar went on to win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the innovation category,
one of the many awards presented to the business over the years.
