Variable Data Inkjets Extend Personalisation

Domino Printing Sciences has added to its portfolio of variable data inkjet printers with the launch of its high-speed K-Series drop on demand printer.

Domino Printing Sciences has added to its portfolio of variable data inkjet printers with the launch of its high-speed K-Series drop on demand printers.

The company believes that the machine takes Domino in to new areas that extend beyond the core capability of part personalisation' and in to complete printing of whole documents.

The K Series was developed after research in to user requirements said Domino.

The K-Series, whose flagship is the K200 printer, has three times the number of print nozzles than Domino's first generation of drop on demand printers.

That makes the K200 capable of providing fast and accurate 300 dots per inch (dpi) printing at 90 metres per minute, which equates to a speed three times higher at the same print resolution, said the company.

As a result, print production in traditional Domino commercial printing sectors, such as direct mail, labels and plastic cards is achieved more efficiently, whilst the overall range of applications is increased, claimed Domino.

The company added that it has undertaken extensive testing in the design of the print-head, the result of which is a system that, rather than remaining in a fixed rectangular position, is angled to create the exact image required according to the needs of the particular print job.

The K200 allows multiple heads to be grouped together, thereby increasing the achievable image area.

As such, the K-Series is said to be capable of complete printing of whole documents.

Philip Easton, Domino's product director for the K-Series, commented: "The versatility in the K200 printhead is a key differentiator to previous Domino systems, which typically print only the VDP part of a document, the rest of which has probably been printed by alternative methods.

That offers users an extended range of applications that open up new market areas and increases their overall service capability." He continued: "Even in traditional Domino applications, the level of flexibility offered by the K-Series is greatly enhanced.

For example, in the printing of labels or games cards, which typically have a pre-printed area, the possibility now exists of printing variably anywhere on the product, rather than being confined to specifically putting the printhead at the top and printing the address or number in that position." The K200 is said to handle spot colour printing and will be offered with Domino CMYK UV inks.

The claimed colour accuracy achieved enhances quality, especially, in plastic card applications explained Easton.

"The print quality achievable with, for example, barcodes on plastic cards is far greater than that of other methods like YAG lasers, which provide much less contrast than the K200," said Easton.

The K200 uses Domino's Editor GT controller that operates on Windows XP and is capable of networking up to eight K200 or 16 K100 print-heads.

If required, different Domino printers can be managed by the same controller, so an A-Series and K-Series printer involved in printing different aspects of the same print job can be linked.

In addition to the K200, Domino has introduced a K100 variant as a versatile evolution of its On Demand system launched two years ago.

The 71mm printhead offers infinitely variable settings enabling a range of options to achieve the exact imaging area desired.

Increased control allows the print resolution to be maximised by changing the angle said Domino.

The K100's electronics system is said to offer increased control and manageability by integrating directly with the Editor GT Controller to enable a range of applications and ensure cost-effectiveness and simplicity.

Easton added: "The K-Series has been introduced to offer commercially viable applications that, whilst cost-effective, offers no compromise in the balance of speed and quality.

We are certain that its arrival will be welcomed by those users who constantly strive to increase their services to customers.".

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