The first Kao Innovation Day took place in Barcelona, Spain, in mid-November. The event highlighted new digital printing technologies that add greater printing value to inkjet printing while reducing downtime.

Kao Chimigraf hosted the event, which attracted representatives from 22 companies based in six different countries. Kao Innovation Day showcased the Kao Collins X-Bar, a high-quality, high-volume, high-speed, single-pass print module. Two multi-printhead systems manufactured by Colordyne Technologies, one using aqueous pigment and the other using UV/LED inkjet inks from Kao Collins, were also shown by Kao Chimigraf, the European partner for both companies.

Aqueous pigment inks work with a wide range of applications, including packaging that must comply with safety regulations that require low migration properties.

The X-Bar and multi-printhead retrofit solutions are designed to retrofit existing printing equipment.

“With the new advancements that have been made in the new Memjet technology, we’re seeing superior water-fastness, superior light-fastness, and better scratch, scuff, and rough resistance–and that’s largely due to the folks at Kao,” says Taylor Buckthorpe, director of sales at Colordyne.

The X-Bar, Colordyne equipment, and inks featured at the event demonstrated that industrial inkjet printing rivals traditional printing while offering customization and personalization.

“Our partnership with Colordyne demonstrates our commitment to delivering the best solutions to our customers,” says Kristin Adams, marketing manager at Kao Collins.