First edition of The Inkjet Conference exceeds expectations

As fast-paced developments in inkjet printing technology are opening traditional industrial applications to digital printing such as packaging, textile, plastics and many more, ESMA is staging ‘The Inkjet Conference™’ (www.theijc.com), sponsored by enabling partner drupa, for the very first time at the Swissôtel in Neuss (Düsseldorf), Germany, on September 30 and October 1 2014.“The interest in inkjet for industrial applications has been overwhelming." says Steve Knight, Founder of Digital Direct, who runs The Inkjet Conference on ESMA's behalf."An impressive line-up of industry leaders will share their insights with over 300 attendees - all interested in the further opportunities this great technology has to offer. We anticipated that our conference fills a void in the market today but are extremely happy with the buy-in and confidence of these great firms - 37 exhibitors have registered ranging from well-known names in print to totally new players entering this market. The two conference days are well filled with 41 speakers so the rooms will be buzzing with ideas and propositions on inkjet. ”

Steve Knight further comments: “Inkjet is the fastest growing area of print. The rapid evolution of core technologies is driving cross market adoption of digital imaging with huge economic benefits, and while some market sectors are still in the 10’s of machines, others are in the 1000’s. Digital print in automotive interior is to be expected next year and so is direct printing on beverages and secondary packaging. Furthermore, labels, ceramics, textiles and packaging are all fast-growing sectors and represent a multi-billion euro business that is expanding rapidly.”

Peter Buttiens, CEO of ESMA comments: “Technical advances in inks, printheads software and electronics are being aided by a growing integration know-how. In turn, improvements in image quality are being driven by further research in inks and surface treatments, curing and drying. As a result, this improved image quality is driving further market adoption.”

The inkjet conference brings together industry and academic leaders in their fields to speak about the latest advances and future developments driving digital print and offers a great networking opportunity to meet both the presenters and the market leaders from their respective industries. The two-day, multi-subject educational conference has been developed specifically for inkjet equipment manufacturers. It includes:

• A focus on inkjet engineering and the placing of a million drops that will feature hardware and software aspects of equipment design and manufacture. Areas touched on will include fluid systems, precision engineering, printheads, digital asset management, RIPs, colour calibration and workflow.




• A review on fluid and ink components such as nano particles, conductive, aqueous and UV inks.




• An academic track open to all universities and non-commercial research institutes to present their work.

Sabine Geldermann, Director of drupa: “The conference supports precisely our “Touch the Future” focus, theme and claim of drupa 2016. It is responding to the rapid market changes and is stimulating new and important visitor target groups with state-of-the-art technologies and new solutions.”

Martin Stegelmeier, Senior Project Manager for PEPSO (Printed Electronics Products and Solutions) of Messe Düsseldorf, points out that “PEPSO connects seamlessness with inkjet technology. Many new materials and application developments are connecting with this upcoming conference and are a springboard towards drupa 2016!”

The conference consists of over 30 different presentations with topics as varied as:

• Membrane Pumps in Inkjet Printers – a success story, Andreas Hauri (KNF Flodos)




• UV-LED Systems and Integration, Patrick Montali (PrintabLED)




• Piezo Inkjet for Precision Dispensing of Functional Materials, Steve Liker (Trident)




• System Integration: an Ink Point of View , Frank De Voeght (Chemstream)




• Improving Inkjet Industry by Implementing Intelligent Sensors, Martin Kurtz (Balluff GmbH)




• Industrial Inkjet for Packaging- Beyond the Box, Holly Steedman (Indujet GmbH)




• Limitations and Benefits of Industrial Inkjet Printing, John Corrall (Industrial Inkjet Limited)




• Utilizing the Full Power of the Computer Hardware, Frédéric Soulier (Caldera)
  
  ....

The academic track also displays the latest in inkjet technology:

• Advanced Drop Watching (iPrint Institute, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland)




• Carbon Nano-Forms Suspensions for Inkjet Printing Energy Applications (Department of Chemistry, University of Torino)




• Silver micro size distribution and printing technique influences on coatings for flexible electronics




• Inkjet printing of functional materials for energy applications




• Inkjet printing and sintering techniques of functional layers for electronic applications

For latest news and updates on The Inkjet Conference™, go to: www.theijc.com.

For more information about the complete programme, please check our brochure: http://theijc.org/images/booklet/TheIJC.html#p=4

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About ESMA

Founded in 1990 ESMA (European Specialist Printing Manufacturer’s Association) is a non-profit organisation. Based in Belgium, near Leuven, it represents manufacturers, printers and consultants from screen, digital or pad printing technology and includes machinery, software, inks, consumables, chemicals and substrates. ESMA represents 57 members and its objectives are to raise value for its members through technical conferences, projects, committees and workgroups.  For more information: www.theijc.com and www.esma.com