Tonnik Liquid Toner Makes Fast, High Quality, Cost-Effective, High Volume Digital Print A Production Reality

Eede,the Netherlands – Xeikon, an innovator in digital color printing technology,is set to take digital print production to a new level of quality andproductivity with the launch of Trillium One at drupa 2016, Messe Düsseldorf,May 31 to June 10 in Hall 8a. 

TrilliumOne harnesses Trillium, Xeikon’s breakthrough liquid toner printing process, whichwas first presented at drupa 2012, and is expected to revolutionise digitalprint, enabling Xeikon customers to Write History, Print the Future.

A joint development project between Xeikon and Miyakoshi, Trillium Onecombines the expertise of two leading players in their fields: Miyakoshi’sstrengths in the mechanics of a printing press and Xeikon’s pioneering approachto digital imaging, high speed electronics, high resolution LED technology,workflow and toner technology.

WimMaes, president of Xeikon, the digital printing solutions division of FlintGroup comments: “We’re proud to have collaborated with anexperienced partner like Miyakoshi. This has allowed both parties to focus ontheir respective strengths.”

Overthe past four years, Xeikon has also worked closely with hand-picked customersto complete the development of the four-colour Trillium One press. Capable of running at 60 meters (200 feet) per minute at 1200 dpi,with a print width of 500 mm (19.7 inches), it combines cost-effectiveness,high quality and speed in a unique printing press poised to change the digitalprinting landscape.Direct marketingmaterials, and catalogues have been identified as high quality markets for Trillium One, with moretarget markets and applications expected to be added over time. 

Takea closer look

At drupa, Trillium One’s production flexibility willbe showcased five times daily using a range of applications during 30-minute demonstrations.Those wishing to take a closer look inside the press will enjoy a virtualreality tour highlighting the numerous press innovations.

“Trillium One takes us to a new technological level in termsof speed and cost for variable digital print,”states Maes. “It is a huge milestone in the Xeikon history.TrilliumOne is the culmination of our three pillars of operation. In imaging,we are continuously improving speed combined with print quality. Intoners, we have been working on our own developmentsto increase our portfolio to meet customer demands. In workflow,we have our own proven DFE, theX-800. Together,thesecomprisea high quality, robust solution that will help our customers acquire new business and cementexisting customer relationships solution.”

ThePerfect Tonnik

Itincorporates Xeikon’s own-developed Tonnik, a liquid tonercombining all the advantages of dry toner in a liquid format including:environmentally friendly as being deinkable and economical. Its developmentensures Xeikon users can meet ever-rising quality and productivity standards.

Trillium’s outstanding level of quality is due to the high resolution madepossible by the imaging heads (1200 dpi) and the small toner particle size ofless than 2 microns used in the Xeikon-crafted high viscosity liquidtoner. The toner contains no evaporating carriersfor a more environmentally conscious print production process that also mechanically recycles the majority of the carrier liquid.Biomaterial derived carrier liquids have been identified further increasing thesustainability of this new technology. As tested by INGEDE, printed materials areperfectly deinkable on the Trillium press.

Precisionand speed combined

Anadditional benefit is Trillium’s Microgapping process; the initial 5 micron developmentgap means that toner particles easily transfer from one roller to the otherwith extreme precision and at a very high speed as the substrate progressesthrough the imaging process. This improves register and image quality and createsincreased density stability. “So, we’re not only printing at 1200 dpi butwe can also guarantee a very accurate dot development. Trillium is, just likeoffset, a full contact printing process,” . 

Maes concludes, “TrilliumOne combines the strengths of offset litho in delivering high print quality, inkdensities, and image coverage on different substrates, with the strengths ofdigital printing which enables variable data printing at higher volumes withlower costs and easy operation, thus creating a powerful production solution. Itwill allow operations to transform their print quality and at the same timeopen up new markets. We are excited to be presenting this revolutionary pressto visitors at drupa 2016.”

Firstmachines will ship as from Q2 2017