The Printhead Cleaning Service - Balancing Innovation with Environmental Responsibility
In the opening chapter we introduced you to People&Technology and talked about the evolution of the company, highlighting significant achievements since 2006. Among these was the creation of INKTESTER in 2015, a hugely innovative machine which could test any brand or model of printhead, adapting quickly to different head types.
Before and After Printhead Cleaning Process (Seiko Printhead)
As we continue the journey, this chapter will look more closely at the advancements of inkjet printhead maintenance and cleaning, particularly emphasising the role of People&Technology’s CLEANJECTOR machine. This innovative machine represents the next step in People&Technology's journey, emphasising their continuous commitment to innovation, coupled with environmental responsibility.
Join us as we explore the details and benefits of the CLEANJECTOR in the context of printhead maintenance:
The Environmental Importance of Printhead Cleaning: Printhead cleaning is crucial for environmental sustainability. Currently, no company globally can recycle inkjet printheads, which comprise metal, plastic, and electronic circuits, contaminated with ink. Cleaning these printheads can significantly reduce industrial waste, as over 75% of printheads can continue functioning post-cleaning.
The Applicability Across Brands and Models: People&Technology’s cleaning service caters to all industrial inkjet printheads. Although economically unfeasible for low-cost printheads, the service is invaluable for the industrial segment, where printheads present a much higher investment cost.
The Recovery Potential of Printheads: Not all printheads can be fully recovered due to factors like material fatigue and physical damage. However, the success rate stands impressively above 80%.
The Limitations in Printhead Repair: Due to their sealed, single-block construction, printheads are generally non-repairable, with rare exceptions.
The Benefits of Printhead Cleaning: Cleaning enhances printhead quality and printhead life, thanks to not only unclogging nozzles but also cleaning internal filters.
The Post-Cleaning Performance: A cleaned printhead performs equivalently to a new one. Its longevity depends on various factors like ink quality, maintenance, and environmental conditions.
The Question of In-House vs People&Technology Cleaning: With the CLEANJECTOR machine, clients can opt for in-house cleaning or send printheads to People&Technology. Owning a CLEANJECTOR is cost-effective for handling numerous printheads and offers immediate cleaning benefits.
The Ink Type and Cleaning Efficacy: The type of ink significantly affects the cleaning process, with oil-based inks being the easiest to clean.
The Ink Brand Variability: Different ink brands yield different recovery rates. High-quality, well-tested inks from reputable brands ensure longer printhead life and less clogged nozzles.
The Impact of Ink Colour on Recovery: Different colours react differently during cleaning, with white being notably challenging, due to the ink containing more pigment and being more viscous.
The Cleaning Time Factors: The time required for cleaning varies, depending on the printhead’s initial state and the duration of inactivity.
The Advantages of Preventive Maintenance: Regular cleaning with the CLEANJECTOR not only unclogs nozzles but also maintains internal circuits and filters, enhancing print quality and printhead lifespan.
The Global Availability of Cleaning Service: People&Technology’s cleaning service is available internationally, with equipment sold to various countries for high-quality local services.
The Future Innovations: People&Technology is developing a groundbreaking technology for printhead cleaning and diagnostics. This technology will provide comprehensive printhead analysis, aiding in immediate and accurate decision-making. This exciting development will be showcased at DRUPA 2024.
Please get in touch if you have any more questions, or you would like to have an informal chat with People&Technology.