Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead is key to Maplejet’s sustainable printing

Packaging Solutions

Xaar and its OEM partner MapleJet, are leading the way in quality and sustainability for coding and marking onto corrugated boxes with the industrial Xaar 502 GS15 O inkjet printhead providing much larger print height and industrial robustness in the latest MapleJet ProDigit 70 printers.

TIJ (thermal inkjet) printheads used for coding and marking onto corrugated boxes are disposable. Over a two year period, this can mean the disposing of over 650 printhead cartridges (in a typical use case), wasting both resources, time and money in replacement.

The industrial design of the Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead, however, fundamentally changes this and ensures the MapleJet printer only uses one printhead throughout the same period and beyond (because Xaar’s inkjet printheads are not disposable), significantly reducing the environmental impact of coding and marking onto corrugated boxes.

The Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead also enables a significant increase in print height in comparison to TIJ printheads, with a maximum print height of 70 mm at up to 180 dpi available. With its suitability for porous substrates, the MapleJet ProDigit 70 printer is capable of printing at a maximum line speed of 58 metres per minute, delivering quality codes for the fastest production environments.

Homayoun Shahrestani, CEO at MapleJet, commented: ‘The MapleJet ProDigit 70 is the latest printer in the ProDigit range, and raises the bar in terms of quality, reliability and sustainability. It is the ideal choice for companies looking to replace their carton label printers as it can print high resolution codes directly onto cartons and operate at line speeds of up to 58 metres per minute, all using the one Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead, thereby significantly reducing waste compared with TIJ-based systems.’

The MapleJet ProDigit 70 printer is available with a 500 ml ink system and will shortly offer a one litre bulk ink system solution, meaning operator intervention is significantly reduced. Its retracting module ensures print quality on production lines where consistent product placement cannot always be achieved.

The Xaar 502 GS15 O printhead utilises Xaar's latest piezoelectric drop on-demand bulk technology actuator design, PrecisionPlus, which provides a long throw distance and increases stability and robustness of the printhead. Combined with the optimised nozzle guard to support automated maintenance routines, this printhead is ideally positioned for use in demanding and harsh factory environments.

Also incorporated into the Xaar 502 is Xaar's TF Technology, which can be run in full through flow mode or pulsed mode. This optional pulsed mode recirculates ink behind the nozzles during non-printing periods only, ensuring increased reliability, excellent performance, high energy efficiency and market leading printhead lifespan.

PrecisionPlus and TF Technology enable fully optimised actuator performance supporting printing in multiple orientations, such as skyscraper (vertical printing) mode, delivering high drop volume as well as accurate drop placement for exceptional print quality, good contrast on dark surfaces, high speed of print and excellent reliability.