EFI Moves In To Digital Print On Ceramics

EFI has completed what it has described as a strategic investment in Jettable, an inkjet technology company specialising in digital printing on to ceramic substrates.

Jettable, which is based in Netanya (Israel) will add its product portfolio to the expanding suite of inkjet systems offered by EFI, including the Vutek superwide inkjet system for the display graphics market and Jetrion digital inkjet for the labels and packaging market.

As well as investments in Kornit in the textiles market and Raster Printers, which complements Vutek by specialising in the mid-range wide format printing market, Jettable offers a line of ceramic inks and what are claimed to be ultra-fine ceramic pigments.

EFI said that building on the success of the Vutek, inkjet continues to be the strategic high-growth engine for the company.

The new product is claimed by the company to offer new market penetration opportunities for EFI's customer base in to the architectural and design markets.

The company added that it will provide equity capital toward the development of the next generation high-speed, single pass production inkjet printer for ceramic tiles.

Jettable is currently working with Kornit, which is another EFI investment, to offer a modified platform for the speciality tile decoration market.

EFI said that the inherent characteristics of ceramic composition inks create the need for a specialised flatbed inkjet printer with colour management tuned to the distinctive ceramic colours to generate the widest and most attractive colour gamut.

Jettable has designed a modified print engine that is claimed to be capable of printing on to numerous types of porous and non-porous ceramic surfaces.

According to EFI, the digital-print technology will replace current methods of printing, such as screen and roller printing with their high levels of waste inks and the digital option is designed for short-run and in-line production.

The main advantages of the Jettable ceramic decoration technology are variable run length and non-contact printing with the ability to handle uneven surfaces.

Ghilad Dziesietnik, EFI's chief technical officer, explained: "The introduction of digital printing enables new applications of colour-rich ceramic tiles, whilst providing a reduction in waste.

This continues to support EFI's green initiative and provides lessened set-up costs.

Our customers will benefit two-fold." Warren Green, the director and founder of Jettable, added: "We are pleased that EFI has identified our breakthrough technology as a true asset to its product range.

We are delighted to join forces with EFI, our vision for industry-leading digital inkjet technologies can now fully be realised.".

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