Home:: FUJIFILM Dimatix Launches Q-Class Emerald Printheads for Performance Graphics

FUJIFILM Dimatix Launches Q-Class Emerald Printheads for Performance Graphics

  • Emerald QE-256/30 AAA and QE-256/80 AAA additions to the Q-ClassTM family combine precise jetting and versatile grayscale operation with a durable, field-proven metal nozzle plate supporting a wide range of ink types including aqueous formulations.
  • Feature set affords design flexibility that can hasten development of new scanning printer configurations for high-performance graphics applications.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc. the world’s leading provider of inkjet printheads for industrial applications, today announced it has launched its new Emerald series piezoelectric drop-on-demand printheads for high-performance graphics applications.

Designated the Emerald QE-256/30 AAA and QE-256/80 AAA, the new 30-picoliter and 80-picoliter printhead models combine precise, high-speed multi-pulse binary jetting and versatile grayscale operation with a durable, field-proven metal nozzle plate that supports aqueous, UV-curable and solvent ink formulations. This construction was specifically chosen to accommodate broad variations in fluid jetting characteristics to facilitate development of new printer designs ideally suited to scanning architectures.

Based on the highly versatile Dimatix Q-Class platform, the new Emerald models feature 256 individually addressable channels arranged in a single row at 100 dots-per-inch spacing. The FUJIFILM Dimatix printhead design allows every jet to operate concurrently with low crosstalk and excellent channel-to-channel uniformity. This enables the printhead to achieve a high throughput rate without trading off drop placement accuracy and deliver precision jetting at full production speed.

This high-accuracy design coupled with a thin profile allows Q-Class printheads to be stacked in close proximity to each other, a feature enhanced with precision registration points that allow developers to nest multiple printheads and achieve high printing densities, while facilitating drop-in replacement.

These shared physical features and identical interfaces as other Q-Class products allow Emerald printheads to be intermingled with the same or complementary printhead models to provide developers with a multitude of configuration possibilities with unequal flexibility and functionality. Further, it allows systems designers to easily migrate their designs across many different printer models, price points and applications.

The Emerald QE-256/30 is designed to eject adjustable 30 to 80 picoliter drops in binary mode or a 30-picoliter fundamental drop in grayscale mode. The Emerald QE-256/80 is designed to eject adjustable 80 to 200 picoliter drops in binary mode or an 80-picoliter fundamental drop in grayscale mode. Operating at a nominal 8-meter/second drop velocity when jetting fluids in the 10 to 14 centipoise range, the new Emerald QE-256/30 operates at firing frequencies to 33 kHz while the Emerald QE-256/80 has a maximum operating frequency to 20 kHz. Both deliver drops with unparallel jetting straightness.

Grayscale operation is made possible with Dimatix’ breakthrough VersaDrop™ jetting technology that enables uniquely flexible modes of operation including adjustable binary drop size and grayscale capability without impact to productivity.

The new Emerald printheads take their place next to the previously introduced Q-Class Sapphire and Polaris models. Sapphire printheads feature Dimatix’ advanced carbon-silicon hybrid construction that produces best-in-class jetting accuracy and are ideal for the aggressive fluids typically used in materials deposition applications. Sapphire, like Emerald printheads share multi-mode binary and grayscale operation. Polaris are general purpose, easy to use printheads with binary only operation. Taken in total, this extensive range of products provides solid evidence of the power and flexibility of the Q-Class platform.

About Fujifilm

FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., the world's leading supplier of drop-on-demand inkjet printheads for industrial applications, is driving a revolution in inkjet technology to support a new generation of products for printing, industrial product decoration and materials deposition. The company's innovative inkjet technology and world-class fabrication techniques enable OEMs, system integrators and manufacturers to build cutting-edge systems and manufacturing processes for high-performance, precision printing of traditional inks and deposition of functional fluids on all types of surfaces, including flexible substrates.

A wholly owned subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and maintains U.S. product development and manufacturing operations in California and New Hampshire. The company sells and supports its products worldwide through offices in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan and Singapore. For more information, visit www.dimatix.com.

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of industries, including electronic imaging, digital printing equipment, medical systems, life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. The company was among the top 20 companies around the world granted U.S. patents in 2009, and in the year ended March 31, 2010, had global revenues of $23.5 billion*. Fujifilm is committed to environmental stewardship and good corporate citizenship. For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.

* At an exchange rate of 93 yen to the dollar.

Q-Class and VersaDrop are trademarks of FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.