About Xaar

Xaar is the world’s leading independent manufacturer of piezo-based drop-on-demand inkjet technologies.

Our printheads are trusted in industrial markets around the globe as the most effective way to lay down precise volumes of inks and fluids with absolute pin-point accuracy time after time.

Our technology is used in a wide range of manufacturing applications, including graphics, labelling, direct-to-shape, packaging, product decoration, ceramic tile and glass decoration, décor, and outer case coding – as well as printing with specialist functional fluids for advanced manufacturing techniques.

Xaar’s industrial inkjet technology has transformed a number of industries; in other sectors the pace of conversion to digital is starting to accelerate.

This is because we deliver a range of benefits which include unrivalled reliability, outstanding performance and process efficiencies which enable our customers to be more innovative, productive, versatile, competitive and creative.

Why Xaar?

 

Applications

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide rely on Xaar printheads and systems components to deliver exceptional quality, speed and digital drop-on-demand performance across multiple industrial applications.

Technology

With around 280 patents registered or pending, and major ongoing R&D investment, Xaar’s digital printhead and precision jetting technologies create infinite possibilities for manufacturing innovation.

Support

Worldwide technical support is provided to all of Xaar’s customers by our team of highly skilled Sales Engineers who through close working relationships deliver a professional and extremely supportive service.

Products

Our comprehensive range of piezoelectric printheads, system components and extensive range of approved ink offers maximum versatility and choice for manufacturers seeking to adopt digital drop-on-demand technologies.

Inks and Fluids

To enable Xaar OEMs and end users to select the ink or fluid that best suits their application and business needs, Xaar evaluates and approves the widest range of inks and fluids of any printhead manufacturer.

Find out more

Download the Xaar Overview to read more about Xaar applications, products and technology.

1990

1990 | Xaar is established

​​Xaar was formed in Cambridge, UK to acquire, develop and commercially exploit a new digital inkjet printing technology arising out of work done by Cambridge Consultants Ltd. Xaar’s business concentrated on licensing four granted patents and know-how to printer manufacturers, primarily for use in office applications.

1997

1997 | London Stock Exchange listing

Xaar completed a successful listing on the London Stock Exchange. The flotation raised a total of £15 million after expenses. Of this, £10 million represented new capital for the Company to accelerate development of the Group.

1999

1999 | First printhead manufacturing

Xaar acquired MIT, an existing licensee. MIT was integrated into Xaar and became Xaar’s dedicated manufacturing facility at Järfälla, Sweden. Xaar’s product portfolio has expanded considerably since this acquisition.

2003

2003 | First greyscale printhead

Xaar introduced its first full production printhead incorporating its unique, patented greyscale technology. The Xaar 318 is manufactured in Japan by Xaar licensee Toshiba TEC and offers photographic-quality printing with no compromise in speed.

2005

2005 | Further greyscale developments

Further greyscale developments led to the launch of the Xaar 760, delivering a choice of binary or greyscale drop sizes to provide the ultimate in flexibility, reliability and speed.

2006

2006 | Manufacturing in UK

Xaar invested £6 million in a new manufacturing plant in Huntingdon, UK.

2007

2007 | Xaar 1001 launched

Xaar launched the revolutionary Xaar 1001 printhead with TF Technology® delivering a significant step forward in inkjet reliability. Xaar is confirmed as a market-leader in the innovation of digital inkjet printing.

2009

2009 | Xaar Proton ​launched

The Xaar Proton was launched to deliver outstanding print quality, superior throughput and exceptional value for a range of applications, including wide-format graphics and coding & marking. Five label presses were launched by Xaar’s OEMs, demonstrating the Xaar 1001’s high quality, single-pass printing capability.

2010

2010 | Capital investment programme

£14 million was raised, after expenses, through placing an open offer to fund the £22 million capacity expansion at the Huntingdon facility to meet growing demand for the Xaar 1001 in the ceramics market.

2011

2011 | Growth

Xaar completes a second consecutive year above 25% sales growth through the adoption of the Xaar 1001 by the ceramics and label printing sectors.

2012

2012 | Launch of Xaar 1001 GS12 announced

Xaar announced the launch of the Xaar 1001 GS12. Xaar records a third consecutive year of revenue growth in excess of 25%, and posts a 74% increase in annual profits.  The capacity expansion programme at Huntingdon successfully completes ahead of schedule and below budget​.

2013

2013 | Increasing capacity

Ceramics conversion accelerates, driven by adoption of the technology in China.  Further capital investment is undertaken to increase capacity by a further 75% by mid-2014 versus the status at the end of 2012.

2014

2014 | Launch of the Xaar 1002

The Xaar 1002 replaced the Xaar 1001, delivering performance and print quality enhancements. Also launched were the small drop Xaar 1002 AMp, and the Xaar 1002 GS40 which produces intense colours and special effects for ceramic tile decoration.​​

2015

2015 | Xaar turns 25 years old

The Xaar 1002 replaced the Xaar 1001, delivering performance and print quality enhancements. Also launched were the small drop Xaar 1002 AMp, and the Xaar 1002 GS40 which produces intense colours and special effects for ceramic tile decoration.​​

2015

2015 | The Xaar Print Bar System is launched

​​Xaar launches the Print Bar System which adds single-pass inkjet capability to analogue web and sheet fed presses.

2016

2016 | Xaar Acquires Engineered Printing Solutions

The acquisition, which completed 1st July 2016 is the first as part of the Company's strategic vision to achieve £220m of annual sales by 2020.

2016

2016 | The most versatile ceramics printhead in the world is launched

​Xaar launches the two colour 2001+ which offers unrivalled production flexibility, market-leading print quality and industrial reliability.

2016

2016 | The Xaar 1201 thin film printhead is launched

Xaar announces the launch of the first printers using the Xaar 1201 in China.

2017

2017 | Xaar 3D opens

Xaar opens the its Xaar 3D centres in Nottingham and Copenhagen and celebrates with a launch event.

2017

2017 | High Laydown Technology is launched

Jetting 3D fluids with high viscosities (at least 55cP), valuable for 3D printing, is possible with the award-winning High Laydown (HL) Technology