FUJIFILM Dimatix Launches Q-Class Inkjet Platform and the First of Several New Hybrid Products

FUJIFILM Dimatix has developed the Q-Class, an advanced-design piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet platform around which it is building a new family of printheads, 2.5-inch wide quad printhead assemblies and modular, monochrome printhead clusters for high-speed scanning and single pass printer architectures.

In addition, FUJIFILM Dimatix announced it will unveil the first two members of the new Q-Class product family – the 1000 dpi Q-256/10 and 600 dpi Q-256/30 – at Drupa 2008, the world’s premier exhibition for the printing industry taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany May 29 through June 11, 2008.

At Drupa, FUJIFILM Dimatix will demonstrate eight-bezel mounted and precisely registered printheads in a nested configuration, forming a 5-inch wide printhead cluster to demonstrate Q-Class scalability. The new Q-Class products will be shown along with a new comprehensive range of supporting inkjet systems components, including driver electronics, data path and head pneumatics module.

The Q-Class family marks the first of a new breed of scaleable printhead configuration. These new inkjet devices feature hybrid construction that merges the durability of FUJIFILM Dimatix’ laminate carbon construction, combined with the accuracy of the company’s silicon MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) fabrication techniques.

The new hybrid construction has enabled FUJIFILM Dimatix to develop high-performance printheads, printhead assemblies and printhead clusters that deliver superb jetting straightness in significantly smaller and a more tightly packed design than was previously possible.

“The combination of FUJIFILM Dimatix-pioneered silicon MEMS fabrication with our proven carbon materials set is ushering in a new era of Piezo DOD printhead scalability, resulting in the most versatile inkjet platform yet developed for industrial printing and macro-feature fluid deposition applications,” said Marc Torrey, vice president, marketing. “The speed, accuracy and scalability of the new Q-Class platform will set new standards for both scanning and single pass printer designs, providing significantly expanded capabilities that systems developers will need to meet tomorrow’s high-speed printing requirements.”

As an example, each of the new Q-Class 256-printheads announced today is just 8 mm wide – less than one-third inch – including mounting hardware. FUJIFILM Dimatix’ hallmark high-accuracy, low-crosstalk design and the new thin profile of Q-Class printheads allows them to be stacked in close proximity to each other. The use of durable silicon and laminate carbon construction also makes Q-Class products well-suited to jetting inks compatible with a broad range of graphics and fluid deposition applications, and at temperatures up to 70°C. Presently, these include organic solvents and the range of UV-curable liquid and paste inks.