Xaar releases 502 series

Inkjet manufacturer Xaar has launched the Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead designed for coding and marking applications.
 
The Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead will 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. It combines binary and greyscale capabilities in one wide-swathe (70.5mm) printhead.
 
It can print drop sizes from 15-75 pL, up to six grey levels for high-resolution, and intense blacks on low contrast surfaces such as cardboard outer boxes. Xaar says the 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 says its piezoelectric drop-on-demand actuator design, PrecisionPlus, provides a long throw distance and increases stability and robustness of the printhead. A nozzle guard supports automated maintenance routines. An optional pulsed mode recirculates ink behind the nozzles during non-printing periods.
 
The Xaar 502 GS15 O handles a range of oil-based inks Xaar’s black mineral oil-free ink, designed for use on secondary packaging on a range of porous and semi-porous substrates. Xaar says this ink breaks down easily during recycling.
 
Simon Kirk, senior product manager at Xaar, says, “The Xaar 502 GS15 O is the pinnacle of 25 years of Xaar’s investment in developing piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads.
 
“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.”