29 July 2008 – Xaar is pleased to announce that the Xaar 1001 printhead is a recipient of the PIA/GATF Intertech Technology Award for 2008.

The InterTech Technology Awards honor the development of technologies predicted to have a major impact on the graphic arts and related industries. PIA/GATF sponsors the awards as a service to the industry in order to spotlight the wide range of technologies that contribute to the advancement of techniques and processes used in the graphic arts. For over thirty years, recipients of this prestigious award have not only had a major impact on the graphic communications industry, but also consistently prove to be successful in the commercial marketplace. The independent panel of judges deliberated over technology submissions ranging from consumables to MIS systems to large-format presses.

The Xaar 1001 is the ideal inkjet printhead for commercial print and packaging. Designed for high-speed, single-pass applications, the Xaar 1001 head is at the heart of a number of innovative UV inkjet presses. It delivers excellent drop formation and drop placement accuracy with outstanding operational durability.

The head's unique XaarDOT technology allows variable-sized drops to be produced, giving users the ability to select drop size depending upon the application. Fine drops give smooth tones and sharp-edged text, while larger drops ensure good ink coverage at maximum print speed.

The 1001 printhead also incorporates Xaar's new HSS head technology, which delivers "through-flow" operation. Most printheads shoot ink by delivering a pressure pulse down a channel that ejects ink from a small nozzle at the end. Unfortunately, nozzles can fail, either being blocked by a particle or because air bubbles form. Failures require a wipe/purge maintenance routine to re-prime the nozzles. With Xaar's through-flow design, ink flows past each nozzle orifice, keeping the channels primed and operational. Any nozzles lost due to a physical shock quickly self-recover.

In their evaluation of the Xaar 1001 Printhead, the InterTech judges said, "This is a truly innovative design of inkjet head technology and facilitates faster speeds, improved productivity and increased resolution. The judges particularly appreciated the ability to be able to print with suspended particle inks, such as metallics. The main areas of application would be in industrial print, packaging, and specialty fluids."

Xaar customers are in agreement. Nick Balon, Xennia VP and General Manager states, "Xaar's range of printheads are a key element of the success of our products. We are particularly excited by the Xaar 1001 printhead which has proven to offer superior quality, speed and reliability."

"The Meital 3000-10 press was designed to fit the needs of the advertising market, where fast turnaround and an increasing demand for resolution are the main trends," comments Stephanie Duvivier, One Solution. "The core of the Meital 3000-10 printing engine is a revolutionary Xaar 1001 printhead based on Xaar's patented hybrid side shooter technology."

"After two years' extensive industry research, we chose Xaar as the partner of choice for our latest printer, the Caslon industrial inkjet device, jointly developed by FFEI and Nilpeter. The Xaar 1001, based on the HSS platform, is one of the most advanced printhead designs on the market. Utilizing a unique and advanced piezo drop-on-demand technology with Xaar patented TF Technology, it provides high quality drop formation and placement accuracy, with superior operational durability," explains Andy Cook, Managing Director, FFEI.

"We are proud of the recognition the 1001 Printhead has received," says Chris Lynn, VP Sales & Marketing, Xaar Americas. "It takes years of research and an extensive manufacturing investment to create a new inkjet printhead. As the leading independent developer of industrial inkjet heads, we try to build products that anticipate the needs of the market. Looking at some of the innovations in inkjet printing today, I hope to see our customers receive their own InterTech Awards in the future."