Xaar launches US Applications division

Inkjet printhead manufacturer Xaar has acquired Texas-based Vivid Print Innovations, Inc., a company with extensive experience in designing digital inkjet printing solutions for a wide variety of packaging, speciality graphics and industrial uses. The investment will deliver Xaar customers a ‘one-stop shop’ to jointly develop bespoke or prototype printing systems using Xaar’s printheads. VPI will retain its name but will be badged ‘The Applications Division of Xaar’.

The consultancy and development service is targeted at brand-owners with specific packaging printing requirements, established inkjet machine manufacturers looking to develop prototypes, or organisations looking to move into the digital print arena.

VPI will compliment Xaar’s established European Integration & Consulting Program. This was set up in 2002 with key industry partners to support companies interested in developing and integrating Xaar’s digital printing solutions into their existing operations.

Jan Fineman, chief executive at Xaar commented, ‘We have identified a gap in the digital printing market where there is currently a gulf between inkjet printhead manufacturers such as ourselves and brand owners who need a bespoke printer - there are few companies in between who can actually build these machines and Xaar is the first printhead manufacturer to offer such a service 'in-house'.’

VPI was founded in 2001 by a team of digital printing experts to develop inkjet printers for a wide variety of uses, and has designed printing solutions for packaging, labelling, screen, offset, flexo and industrial printing markets.