HP reveals the science of original printing solutions

(Clockwise from top left): Nils Miller, ink/media senior scientist, HP, explains lightfastness. Vincent Vanderpoel, vice-president, Asia-Pacific speaking at the seminar. An experiment shows how HP's ink controls 'black-to-colour bleed' on papers and HP's polymerized toner particles. PHOTO: STAR

To send the message of quality and reliability about the HP's cartridge and ink technology, a two day-long seminar with regional journalists on 'The Science of Printing' was held at the Inkjet Supplies Manufacturing Singapore (IJMS) facility on March 4 -5. At the seminar, senior officials, scientists and technical persons of the company demonstrated HP's technologies behind its printing system which includes the printer, ink, cartridges and media-like paper.

In the Asia-Pacific region, printers constitute a large chunk of HP's business. The total printer business for HP is estimated at around $22.9 billion over the last four quarters. HP shipped more than 300 million printers, most of which were inkjets. Sharing these figures, Michael Hoffmann, senior vice president, Imaging and Printer Group (IPG), HP, started the 'Science of Printing' presentation. He showed that only 4 percent digital printing takes pace in the vast world of printing of images, magazine, newspapers, packaging, books, brochures, catalogues, forms, fax and copies. But this number is increasing rapidly and HP has a major role to play there. "Within the next two years HP will introduce products unique the market and try to make digital photography as easy as ever before." He added.

Vincent Vanderpoel, vice-president, supplies business, IPG, Asia-Pacific/Japan, spoke at length about the company's innovative initiatives and the high-end printers, cartridges and ink. "Supplies are not just ink, toner and paper. They are highly engineered components of a printing system, requiring sophisticated technologies," he said.

Vincent also said the printing and imaging market is highly competitive, with some companies offering alternative solutions like refills for ink. But while recognising the competition, HP has a different value proposition to its clients who are free to make their choices.

Talking about the consumer benefit of the science of printing, Nils Miller, ink/media senior scientist, HP, described the image quality, reliability and specially 'lightfastness' of the inkjet printing technology.

He said HP's recently introduced black and white-capable photo printing systems offer professional-quality black and white photos that resist noticeable light fading for 115 years. Referring to a test report by Wilhelm Imaging Research Inc (WIR), a leading worldwide image permanence laboratory, Nils said black and white prints by HP Photosmart 7960 resist fading for up to 115 years when tested under glass.

"Its important for customers to understand that any credible comparisons of photo performance must be delivered from identical test methods," said Nils. "WIR employs the most stringent and most widely used test methodology on fade resistance. In addition, Wilhelm tests and publishes results for all major brands, which enables customers to make fair and credible comparisons," he added. WIR tests previously concluded that HP's latest colour photo printing systems offer fade resistance under display conditions for 73 years.

The print head of HP ink cartridges has up to 500 nozzles, each finer than a human hair. Heated ink in the form of tiny vapour bubbles are ejected at a speed of 15 m/sec with over 7 million 5 pico-litrr drops delivered every second.

Venkat Balasubramaniam, ink chemist, HP, then demonstrated HP's ink formulation. He described the central ink ingredients, components, environmental impact, performance on paper, other media and printing system. He then assisted a lab experiment 'black-to-colour bleed' performed by all the seminar participants. The experiment showed how HP's ink formulation includes a patented chemical mechanism that controls 'black-to-colour bleed' on office papers.

Marco Li, product engineer director, IJMS operations, HP, then gave a detailed overview of the designing, manufacturing and product-testing process. He demonstrated how HP uses the Drops Break-off Observation System (DBOS) and optimises Bore geometry to create the perfect inkjet models. He also spoke about the Hermetic seal testing, a helium leakage detection process and Automatic Print Quality Tester (APQT), which is done to measure nozzle health and drop placement.

A site tour of the Inkjet Supplies Manufacturing Singapore (IJMS) facility next concluded the sessions on the first day of the 'Science of Printing.' The manufacturing plant involves state-of-the-art automated production lines and includes an in-house Wafer Fabrication plant.

The plant produces silicon wafers to meet inkjet manufacturing demands in Singapore, US, Puerto Rico and Ireland. The inkjet production began in Singapore in 1988. Over the years, IJMS has introduced more technologically advanced production lines. The MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) integrated circuit wafer fabrication facility was set up in 2001.