With strong market demand, China is currently the largest ceramic production centre in the world. To date, the majority of tiles in the market are printed at 360 dpi or 400 dpi, which is an acceptable resolution [[{"fid":"294505","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples"},"link_text":false,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","alignment":"","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples","title":"Xaar Uniceramics Expo stand big slab print samples","style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]for floor and wall tiles. However, with the growth in big slab applications such as dining tables, kitchenware and sanitary ware, viewing distances are much closer, and customers are therefore looking for higher quality tiles with higher resolution and definition.
Xaar’s technology has unique advantages in these applications and the high-resolution tiles displayed clearly demonstrated the quality of 720 dpi print provided by the Xaar 2002 printhead. Visitors were able to easily compare samples of tiles printed using the same machine and same ink at both 720 dpi and 360 dpi, with the fine detail and depth of colour instantly apparent.
Graham Tweedale, General Manager of Xaar’s printhead business, said, “Technical innovation and the use of differentiated technologies to meet the latest market and customer needs are the cornerstones of Xaar's commitment to the global market.
“As an active response to the needs of the Chinese ceramic sector market, printing at 720 dpi enables our ceramic OEM partners to deliver the higher print quality that their customers demand, especially for the growing slate market for dining tables, wall tiles, and decoration of kitchens and bathrooms.”
Samuel Tam, Xaar's General Manager for Asia, added, “Since last October, Xaar has been accelerating its global rebranding and confirmed once again its strategy in China of taking a customer-centric approach and market orientation to deliver a ‘win-win’ in cooperation with our Chinese OEM partners. With the ability to print at these high resolutions, the possibility for our OEM partners to differentiate their solutions is now available, and we are delighted at the significant interest we have seen at the show.”