Trident and Fraunhofer Announce Collaboration to Provide Inkjet Solutions for UV Coating Applications


Connecticut, USA. - Trident (www.trident-itw.com) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (www.ipa.fraunhofer.de) announce a new collaboration to produce innovative inkjet technologies for UV coating applications. The digital, additive inkjet technologies feature a unique repairable printhead design with capability for enabling digital patterning with up to 40% reduction in material waste and up to 60% reduction in process steps compared to alternative technologies like screen printing.

Trident and Fraunhofer work together to provide complete inkjet solutions consisting of an inert Trident 256Jet-D(TM) inkjet printhead and Fraunhofer's compact, highly flexible drive electronics and specialized nozzle plates.

The unique repairable 256Jet-D(TM) inkjet printhead is made of stainless steel construction for enhanced durability. The nozzle plate can be removed, cleaned and reassembled quickly for maximum efficiency. Fraunhofer can fit the 256Jet-D(TM) inkjet with a wide variety of custom nozzle plates specifically designed for the performance needs of individual coating applications - minimizing particle buildup in the printhead and ensuring superior performance.

"Together Fraunhofer and Trident are bringing very innovative inkjet technologies to coating applications," explained Steve Liker, Business Manager at Trident. "Because it is a digital, additive process inkjet makes much more efficient use of costly coating materials and minimizes waste. Fraunhofer has the world-class manufacturing expertise to integrate Trident's industrial inkjet printhead with specialized drive electronics and nozzle plates and create highly efficient, cost-saving inkjet technology specially tailored for specific custom applications."

"Fraunhofer was attracted to the Trident technology because of its superior durability," explained Andrzej Grzesiak, Group Manager at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation. "The stainless steel construction and repairable design of the 256Jet-D(TM) allows it last up to 5X times longer than traditional non-repairable, plastic orifice printheads. In addition to the UV coating applications available today, Fraunhofer is also working on biotechnology and printable electronic applications for the near future."

About Trident

Trident Industrial Inkjet, an ITW company, has been a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of piezoelectric impulse inkjet printheads, inks and other consumables for over 30 years. Based in Brookfield, CT, USA, Trident products are used in a variety of applications that require high-quality, high-speed, rugged printing equipment coupled with the ability to change the text, graphics or bar code information easily and frequently.

For more information about Trident, please visit www.trident-itw.com

For more information visit www.trident-itw.com or contact:

In North and South America: Steve Liker, Business Manager, Trident

Email: Sliker@Trident-ITW.com Phone: +1.203.740.9333 ext. 3037

In Europe: Des O'Neill, European Sales Manager at Trident Europe

Email: doneill@trident-itw.com Phone: +353.1.8014004

In Asia: Kay Chino, Asia Sales Manager at Trident Asia

Email: kchino@trident-itw.com Phone: +81.297.61.5860

About Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation
The Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Fraunhofer IPA) has over 350 employees and is one of the largest institutes within the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft embedded in an excellent infrastructure. The aim of the research and development projects is to demonstrate the potential of automating and streamlining production, processes and products for industry. Fraunhofer IPA develops, tests and implements methods, components, devices and complete machines.

Since 2002 the research group for "printing and additive technologies" concentrates on inkjet and laser printing technologies with an emphasis on new applications of digital printing for manufacturing purposes. Successful projects include the development of an innovative production process for biochips using laser printing technique as well as the further development of jetting ceramic inks for the ceramic industry. A focus is on process development and the design and assembly of experimental rigs and prototype printers.

For more information, visit www.ipa.fraunhofer.de or contact.

Andrzej Grzesiak, Group Manager, Fraunhofer IPA

Email: Andrzej.Grzesiak@ipa.fraunhofer,.de Phone: +49.711.970.1746

Oliver Refle, Project Manager, Fraunhofer IPA

Email: Oliver.Refle@ipa.fraunhofer.de Phone: +49.711.970.1867

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