Historically, Xaar has an assured place in the early development of narrow web inkjet printing. The company’s iconic 1001 print head, launched in 2007, formed the core of print engines which powered digital presses developed by a range of industry partners. Indeed at Labelexpo Europe 2011 almost one third of the digital presses were using Xaar 1001 printheads, including those from Durst, EFI Jetrion, Nilpeter and Stork Prints.
Since that high point Xaar has faced increasing competition from other inkjet head manufacturers in the narrow web sector, while a focus on the ceramic market took the company’s eye off developments in the label industry, as CEO John Mills accepts: ‘Our focus on the booming ceramics market meant Xaar drifted from the label industry for a little while.’