IMI Europe Inkjet Engineering Conference
Conference Programme
Download the conference brochure
14 March 2017
Aquatis Hotel, Lausanne, Switzerland
For more details about the Aquatis Hotel, please visit our venue page.
The IMI Europe Inkjet Engineering Conference is aimed at printing system development engineers looking to find out about the latest products, technology and techniques, and exchange ideas with peers. The conference covers printheads, drive electronics, software and integration.
The conference programme provides information on topical themes such as printhead choice, reliability and print quality.
TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD
The conference is guided by a Technical Advisory Board consisting of key industry figures, including:
- Dr Nick Campbell, Inca Digital Printers
- Mike Willis, Pivotal Resources
The Technical Advisory Board is chaired by Dr Tim Phillips of IMI Europe.
presenting companies
Ebeam Technologies | Edale | Exergen | Global Graphics Software | Global Inkjet Systems | Inca Digital Printers | Meteor Inkjet | Pall Filters | Reden | University of Twente
Additional Benefits
Networking
Meet with suppliers, industry experts and developers from other companies at our complimentary networking breaks, lunch and evening drinks reception. Excellent refreshments will help you enjoy this key part of the conference.
Sponsor Exhibits & Forum
Event sponsors will have their products and technology on display in the breakout area. In addition the Sponsors' Forum enables you to hear short presentations from sponsors with their latest news. If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please visit our sponsorship page.
Free report
Conference registration includes a free copy of the IT Strategies "The Numbers" market report.
Conference Programme
TuesDAY 14 March 2017
Some challenges in the design of high speed single pass inkjet printers
Dr Nick Campbell, Project Manager, Inca Digital Printers
“How difficult can it be to make a single pass inkjet printer? You just hold the printheads over the moving substrate and fire out the ink, then you dry or cure it.”
This is true, but the Devil is in the detail – and there’s a lot of detail. The requirements for position and speed stability and accuracy are very different from conventional analogue printing. Aqueous inkjet inks contain more water than conventional analogue inks, requiring more drying and having a greater effect on the stability of paper substrates. Inkjet technology also brings along its own catalogue of difficulties.
This presentation summarises the world of pain that is single pass inkjet printer development and highlights some of the key issues in process development and the project management of such a development.
Simulating different phases in the printing process
Jakko Nieuwenkamp, Senior Engineer, Reden
The digital printing process is becoming increasingly important within new manufacturing methods. It provides the flexibility, accuracy and scalability that’s requested. The development of the printing process for new applications will come with new challenges. Insight in the printing process is a requirement to overcome these challenges and develop a robust printing process. Simulating the phases of the printing process will provide the necessary insight at an early stage of the development process. An overview of a set of simulation models covering different phases of the printing process will be presented.
Basics of piezo driven inkjet printheads: Fluid dynamics and nozzle design
Prof Dr J. Frits Dijksman, University of Twente
In order to integrate many nozzles at a small pitch in a piezo driven printhead, each ink carrying duct must be long with a narrow cross-section. The length is necessary because of the small displacement of the piezo actuator; to achieve sufficient volume displacement to generate droplets the actuator area must be sufficiently large. Upon activation, pressure waves are generated that travel back and forth through the printhead fluid paths. These waves reflect at the nozzle and at the connection to the main supply channel. In the nozzle the resulting fluid motion is of the order of magnitude of the length of the nozzle, causing considerable non-linear effects. A model will be presented that allows for the precise calculation of the evolution of pressure waves depending on pulse shape and frequency, and the interaction with the non-linear effects in the nozzle, namely varying viscous drag, non-linear surface tension forces related to the meniscus position, inertia effects linked to the direction of fluid motion in the nozzle and finally droplet formation.
Printhead selection and evaluation
Jonathan Wilson, Sales Director, Meteor Inkjet
There is a vast and growing range of inkjet printheads and this has enabled the adoption of inkjet technology in an ever-expanding array of applications. When developing an inkjet printer, selection of the most appropriate printhead is fundamental. This presentation will detail important considerations in the selection and evaluation of printheads including criteria for target applications, suppliers and their products, interesting printhead features, datapath and software considerations, and evaluation techniques and equipment.
Challenges in ink delivery system design and operation
Dr Jozef Vlaskamp, Engineer, Global Inkjet Systems
This presentation will cover some of the fundamental issues related to building and maintaining robust ink delivery systems (IDS). The challenges for IDS designers and builders are increasing - more industrial printheads require controlled/adjustable recirculating flow; other printheads and fluids may benefit from low flow recirculation; system sizes are increasing which increases complexity; fluids may need degassing or heating. This presentation will cover these key issues including tubing, pressure control, flow type, different IDS design options, pitfalls and troubleshooting common problems.
How to build a digital front end
Martin Bailey, CTO, Global Graphics Software
What do you need to create a digital front end to drive your press? How do you define one anyhow? This presentation looks at the basic building blocks and covers what you need to think about when you design your press. How do you tune your DFE to your customer’s requirements when many print service providers don’t know what to look for in the software mix. It’s a salutary reminder that the best performing inkjet presses live or die by the software that drives them.
Inkjet web transport - an inside view
Daryl Finter, Engineering Director, Edale
There are an ever-increasing number of inkjet presses in the marketplace using different printhead, ink and drying technologies. They all run at different speeds and web widths while processing disparate materials. Some form part of a larger analogue printing press, while some are dedicated process development laboratory rigs. Edale has a long history (long in single pass inkjet terms!) in developing dedicated web transport machinery for single pass inkjet. The presentation will look at some of the key required technologies, examining what it takes to create a highly accurate, stable and integrated machine for inkjet. The requirement to print a variety of materials, some of which are inherently unstable, represents a significant challenge. We will also discuss how these machines can incorporate digital and analogue printing and converting technologies.
Filtration, degassing and oxygen measurement technologies for inkjet printing applications
Oliver Baatz, SLS Project Manager Microelectronics, Pall Filters
Filtration and degasification are key technology requirements for digital printing. Finer resolution and higher printing speed as well as changing ink chemistries and substrates are the challenging factors of today. Controlling of further parameters like dissolved oxygen become more important. This presentation will provide an overview about the filtration and degassing methodology and technology on board of digital inkjet printers, including specific product type recommendations and how to ensure keeping parameters under control.
Electron beam curing technology
Dr Elsa Callini, Business Development Manager, Ebeam Technologies
E-beam is potentially the ideal curing approach for food safe packaging. This comprehensive review and introduction of e-beam technology addresses the physical process of electron generation, the electron-matter interaction, and the chemistry of e-beam curable inks. Case studies and examples will be discussed demonstrating what makes the chemistry and physics of e-beam unique as an alternative to traditional curing methods. A focus will be placed on food safety with solutions to eliminate the risks associated with photoinitiators, migration, and VOC emissions. From heat sensitive materials, aluminum foils, wet on wet, and even curing inks and over-print varnish simultaneously, with the versatility of inkjet, e-beam covers a wide range of application areas.
Thermal management techniques to increase production speed and maintain quality
Bart van Liempd, CEO, Exergen Global
The pressure to continually deliver increased print production speeds while maintaining consistent quality is an ongoing challenge in the digital inkjet printing industry - one that is exacerbated by thermal management issues. It is generally accepted that temperature measurement in print production processes is best achieved with non-contact sensors, yet most infrared temperature measurement methods are limited to material surfaces, a serious drawback when considering speed increases and quality. The presentation will describe a heat balance equation that provides for the difference between equipment surface temperature, which is directly measured, and bulk material temperature, which is indirectly measured. The presenter will outline how the equation can calculate the internal temperature of equipment, allowing manufacturers to optimise control, increase speeds and maintain consistent quality.
Hear short presentations from the event sponsors.
Join us for wine, beer, canapés and good company!