Q. How is the penetration achieved on e.g. carpets, Piezo does not seem to be able to do this?

A. The larger drop volumes (2-200 nl) are applied to the carpets under pressure, the P16 head can work with air pressure up to 3 Bar. The ink/fluid drops are ‘shot’ into the pile.
The above in conjunction with the right ink/fluid chemistry achieves the pile penetration.

Q. What are the basic fluid parameters for the Printos P16?

A. Commonly:
Viscosities ranging from 1 – 100 cp Haake, non - Newtonian
Particle sizes: 4 – 15 micron
Surface tension: 30 dynes/cm2
Drop volumes: 2-200 nl
Air pressure: max 3 Bar

Q. Can the P16 only jet water based inks?

A. The P16 heads which are predominantly built from stainless steel are capable of jetting a range of inks/fluids, i.e. UV fluids, pre -and post coatings, fire retardant fluids, rain repellants. Also solvent based fluids/inks can generally be jetted well.

Q. Piezo heads are difficult to service, what about the P16 heads?

A. The P16 is designed to be disassembled for the purpose of cleaning and refurbishment. During operation the print module operates under pressure and, with much larger orifices than Piezo nozzles, is less susceptible to blockages. This reduces the need for cleaning or regular maintenance cycles. Printos offers a complete refurbishment programme where the critical internal components of the P16 module are replaced. Piezo heads require greater care to avoid blockages and cannot be serviced or refurbished.

Q. Are the P16 heads mainly used for textile applications?

A. As well as textile applications, both printing and coating, the P16 technology is well suited for a wide range of other applications. These include wide web vinyl banner printing with solvent/UV based inks, protective coatings and pre and post treatments onto a wide range of substrates and ceramic applications amongst many others.

Q. What are the differences between the P16 heads you offer?

A. Printos offer the P16 with the following ‘nozzle’ sizes (giving different drop volume ranges)

• P16 – 45 micron, print resolution up to 150 DP, onto upholsteries and banners etc
• P16 – 60 micron, up to 100 DPI, onto towels, upholsteries, banners and coating applications
• P16- 100 micron, up to 50 DPI, onto carpets, towels, bath rugs and coating applications
• P16 - 160 micron, up to 50 DPI, onto carpets, rugs, carpet tiles.

Q. Do I really need 300 DPI and more when printing onto textiles and other materials?

A. Commonly on the thinner textiles, 300 DPI and more are applied by the Piezo technology. However on ‘higher pile” materials, such as towels, drapes, upholstery materials, logo mats etc, but also on the wide web banners, the DPI plays a lesser role. Excellent results can be achieved with 35 – 100 DPI (see our print samples)

Q. Does Printos sell machines as well?

A. Videojet/Printos are manufacturers of Drop On Demand solenoid valve jet heads and commonly work with OEM machine builders who incorporate the P16 heads and P700 jets into their machines. Printos do however supply an Evaluation Kit (see ‘products’) for fluid testing and also the T8 (see ‘products’) machine for sampling.

Q. Can we purchase quantities of P16 heads from you?

A. The P16 technology is available in quantities under a “License and Supply Agreement”. For a simple test of the jetting capabilities or basic sample printing, the Evaluation Kit and T8 are for sale without signing the “License and Supply Agreement”

Q. Can Printos test a fluid/ink for my application?

A. Printos has testing facilities in Huntingdon, UK. A fee is charged for half day periods during which we can work with you in testing your fluid. You may either send at least 1 liter of the fluid, including the solvent for cleaning the P16 heads and with a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), or bring the fluids with you.

Q. I have an application in mind. Does Printos have an OEM machine builder who I could work with?

A. Printos has a number of OEM, machine builder partners we could get you in contact with. Before we do so, we would like to know what your application is so we can assist you in the best way and find you the best partner to work with. We would then need to agree a license with you to use the Printos technology for your particular application.

Q. Can we purchase P700 carpet printing jets from you directly?

A. The Printos P700 carpet printing jet is available without signing a license. The P700 jets has been on the market for some 8 years now and some 500,000 have been built into carpet printing machines in production around the world today.
We even supply larger customers with spare parts.

Q. What inks and fluids can I use with the Printos technology?

A. Printos P16 technology is only licensed and warranted for use with inks or fluids that are either purchased from Printos or have been warranted for use by Printos. In the latter case, Printos will charge either a one-off fee for the evaluation and approval of the fluid or will require a royalty payment dependent on consumption of the approved third party fluid. Subsequently we can develop a fluid most suitable for your specific application.