Key success factors for developing and commercializing a successful aqueous inkjet product: A specialist point of view vs. a generalist perspective Oct 24 th 2018 Hamid M. Shirazi Ph.D. Product Manager, AQ inks
Content Introduction to FUJIFILM InkJet Technology Printing process and examples of a specialist vs. generalist point of view Key factors for technical and commercial success Overview of status of key markets for aqueous inks 2
About FUJIFILM $27 Billion Global Revenue $7 million daily R&D investment Commercial activities; Flat Panel Display Medical & Life Sciences Recoding Media Semiconductors Motion Picture & Photo Imaging Office Printer Products & Services Graphic Arts ($2.3 billion revenue) Synthetic Organic Chemistry Lab, Japan Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems, UK (Sericol, 2005) Fujifilm Imaging Colorants, UK (Avecia, 2006) Advanced Marking Research Lab, Japan Graphic Arts Create new business opportunities through technology innovation Fujifilm Dimatix, USA (Spectra, 2006) Fujifilm Cambridge Engineering, UK (Opened 2012)
The printing process Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Collection of highly complex unit operations High degree of dependency and interrelation All equally important to deliver end product One weak link can result in failure Spending time on the right area of development and optimization is key A specialist role is to focus on each area in depth, more inline with product development Alignment and harmonization of each is key to success from a generalist point of view and in line with application development 4
ITMA ASIA 2017 Textile forum Voice of the Customer - Interview Results Results: Where do you get most of your information about digital textile printing? 1. Ink Suppliers 2. Printhead Suppliers 3. Trade Shows 4. Printer Manufacturers 5. WeChat Group 6. Peers 7. Trade Magazines 8. Forums and conferences
Printing process: a transformation Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product 6
Specialist: Surface preparation and types of substrates Permeable surface 1) Faster drying 2) Less prone to abrasion 3) Surface coloration may be desired 4) Penetration may be desired Non-Permeable surface 1) Complete evaporation into atmosphere more difficult to dry! 2) More prone to abrasion 3) Typically color cohesion and adhesion to surface is desired 4) For hydrophobic surface dot gain, dot definition and regulatory, dot to dot bleed can all be challenges 7
Examples of a specialist tool box for surface preparation Physical modification: Corona treatment Plasma treatment- cleaning Penetration fluid Anti-migration agent Chemical modification: Plasma treatment-oxidising Destabilization of solubility of dye, pigment dispersion and latex emulsion Protonation at low ph (H + ) Divalent metals (M 2+ ) Poly cationic polymers and flocculants Polymer and resins to improve adhesion 8
Generalist s perspective: application development Example of drying on non-permeable substrate for high speed printing Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Surface treat? Lower humectants Higher solid content Fast drying ink Better capping Maintenance Convection dryer Radiation dryer (IR, NIR, Acoustic, Microwave ) Contact dryer Dryer configuration, dwell time, Temp, air flow, combinations Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product 9
What is the one single resource that can NEVER be replaced or replenished in any project or program? 10
I wasted TIME and now doth time waste me. William Shakespeare Richard II 11
Some of the key factors for technical success Good understanding of the printed product and its markets During component product development get access to a wide range of expertise and critical components: extensive TOOLBOX with all the right pieces of the puzzle. During application development develop a simple process: Eliminate any of the process steps and unit operations whenever possible (no pretreat, no post treat ) If surface preparation, finishing or other steps are needed, take advantage of them and turn them into opportunities ensure all steps are aligned with the rest of the process steps and unit operations Weak link analysis- entire process is only as strong as the weakest link Understand interdependencies and interrelationships of each unit operation and have a holistic approach, not isolationist Spend your TIME in the right focus area towards, product development, eliminating weakest link and harmonization and alignment of interrelationship of all the unit operations within an application. 12
Some of key factors for commercial success Traditional vs. digital printing Agility! Versatility! Connectivity! AI, Cloud Quantum Comp Designer Digitize Engraving Conventional production User Designer User Print User
Digital printing cost benefits and business model Replacement markets Rough financial modelling New novel markets If I had asked people what they wanted, They d said faster horses! Henry Ford YY/Kg ink price 14
Commercial print Introductory Stage Growth Stage Maturity Stage Decline Stage Total Market Sales Applications: Transpromo Direct mail Imprinting Magazine Book printing Newspaper 15
Commercial print Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Market trends: Variable data Targeted advertizing Coated & uncoated paper Mostly for text and script Digital primer instead of analog State of IJ printers is advanced High speed printing High OD black! Dye and pigment based inks available Coated paper Primer-less fast drying inks High speed high capacity dryers 16
Textile Introductory Stage Growth Stage Maturity Stage Decline Stage Total Market Sales Applications: Fashion & apparel Home textile Technical textile Flags and soft signage 17
Textile Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Market trends: Fast fashion E-commerce Widest range of substrates Pretreatment full coverage Penetration Anti-migration Hand feel and drape State of IJ printers is very advanced-scanning, single pass and hybrid printers A wide range of ink chemistries available based on substrate and application Polyester: Dye sub disperse very popular a two step process: paper printing followed by thermal transfer. Brilliant colors! 18
Textile Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Market trends: Fast fashion E-commerce Widest range of substrates Pretreatment full coverage Penetration Anti-migration Hand feel and drape Polyester Direct disperse- Steam and wash High end natural fibers: Reactive, acid, fantastic coloration with built-in binder at molecular level brilliant colors! Steam and wash process 20% of industrial water waste! Pigment binder ink is multi fiber- dry heat fixation Further optimization on crock, coloration and hand Next gen new class of colorants! Revert back to natural colorants CNN reference! 19
Décor Introductory Stage Growth Stage Maturity Stage Decline Stage Total Market Sales Applications: Laminates Doors, panels, furniture Flooring LVT tiles Wall paper 20
Décor Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Market trends: Engineered designs Board displays Primer and pre-treats for Décor paper PVC film Direct to board Scanning and SP paper printers High speed paper printers Non binder inks available Digital colorants development Solvent inks for films to AQ, PVC Thermally activated AQ adhesive Heat press Lamination process Delamination strength Steam and blister test 21
Packaging Introductory Stage Growth Stage Maturity Stage Decline Stage Total Market Sales Applications: Corrugated Folding carton Flexible packaging 22
(Flexible) Packaging Surface preparation InkJet printing Drying, fixation and curing Finishing Printed product Market trends: Brand owner printing Personalization Primer and pre-treats for Plastic filmic substrate OPP, PET, PE Few InkJet AQ printers Drying at speed Virgin market Reverse printing Surface printing AQ ink CMYK OVG AQ W ink Food contact Solvent inks for films to AQ Varnish for surface printing Lamination for reverse Cold and hot seal 23
FUJIFILM InkJet Technology is unique FUJIFILM most successful customers use extensive FUJIFILM toolbox!
Thank You for Your Attention!