Xaar wanted an ink delivery system that would enable their customers to bring the next generation of high speed, commercial digital printing technology using Xaar 1001 print-heads to market faster and at lower cost, as well as developing a better understanding of ink delivery systems and improving their development process.

42T’s project managers and engineers worked as integral part of Xaar’s in-house resource. A detailed product specification was agreed, concepts were developed and investigated using advanced hydraulic modelling techniques before sub-systems were designed and tested. Only once a thorough understanding had been established was a detailed system designed and developed.
42T and Xaar developed the initial concept and architecture for a new pumped ink delivery system which was then further optimised by Xaar’s in-house team of product engineers. The resulting compact small footprint unit, Hydra, was then launched to further strengthen the company’s position in the fast-growing commercial inkjet printing market.

Hydra delivers ink on demand to four Xaar 1001 print-heads, is easy to operate with just three buttons and can very accurately maintain the ink’s operating parameters (pressure, temperature, viscosity and flow) across the head. Accurate control is essential in delivering high quality print and an easy to use system. Hydra is also scalable allowing manufacturers to rapidly develop large format, 1001-enabled printing technologies by using multiple units side by side; the units are designed to handle a full range of fluid types including high viscosity and heavily pigmented inks.

The Hydra recirculating ink supply system has been designed to make it much easier to develop prototype printing systems, based on Xaar’s award-winning 1001 print-head, by removing one of the most time consuming, costly stages in the development process. In the past, manufacturers have had to spend time matching their proprietary inks, delivery system and the intended printable surface with the head. Whereas they can now buy an ‘off the shelf’ unit that supports a wide range of fluid types, viscosities and operating temperatures as well as different print-head orientations.