Xaar plc, the leader in industrial inkjet technology, is delighted to announce the launch of the Xaar 502 product family of high-performance greyscale piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads designed for a wide variety of applications. The first release from this printhead family is the Xaar 502 GS15 O optimized for Coding and Marking applications.

The Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead meets the needs of manufacturers developing machines to print high quality late-stage product identification such as text, product data, bar codes and graphics onto secondary packaging or directly onto shaped products and primary packaging.

This printhead launch, which demonstrates Xaar’s commitment to Coding & Marking, delivers a step change in product identification technology by combining binary and greyscale capabilities in one wide-swathe (70.5mm) printhead to give users the ultimate in flexibility.

With the ability to print drop sizes from 15-75 pL the printhead can print up to 6 grey levels for high-resolution, intense blacks on low contrast surfaces such as cardboard outer boxes. The Xaar 502 GS15 0 delivers sharp, dense black text as well as fine text, quality graphics and smooth images on porous or semi-porous outer packaging and cardboard, giving the ability to better manage ink usage.

Xaar technology ensures superb performance

The Xaar 502 family utilizes Xaar’s latest piezoelectric drop-on-demand actuator design, PrecisionPlus, which provides a long throw distance and increases stability and robustness of the printhead. Combined with the optimized nozzle guard to support automated maintenance routines, the Xaar 502 family of printheads is ideally positioned for use in demanding and harsh factory environments.

Also included in the Xaar 502 printhead family is Xaar’s TF Technology^? which can be run in Pulsed mode. This optional new mode recirculates ink behind the nozzles during non-printing periods only, ensuring maximum reliability, excellent performance, high energy efficiency and market-leading printhead lifespan.

These two leading technologies enable fully optimized actuator performance, when printing in multiple orientations such as skyscraper mode that deliver high drop volume as well as accurate drop placement for exceptional print quality, high speed of print and excellent reliability.

The Xaar 502 GS15 O 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. The main benefit of this ink is its ability to break down easily during recycling, which is of particular interest to environmentally conscious brand owners and retailers.

The new greyscale Xaar 502 GS15 O complements the binary Xaar 128 printhead to give OEMs a choice of printheads to suit their specific Coding and Marking requirements. The Xaar 502 GS15 O offers legacy Xaar 500 users a replacement product that will enhance existing applications.

“The Xaar 502 GS15 O is the pinnacle of 25 years of Xaar’s investment in developing piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads,” says Simon Kirk, Senior Product Manager at Xaar. “Today brand owners and retailers expect to be able to put larger, more detailed, more brand-orientated product identification text and graphics onto their packaging. Another key driver for manufacturers is to have more control over ink usage while delivering higher resolution print on cardboard. This new wide-swathe greyscale inkjet printhead delivers the superb performance needed to achieve this.”