Ink-jet Printing -- Coming Up Heads and Tales

DOD ink-jet heads have a cost advantage because of their engineering and mass production. Compared to the mechanical nature of piezo heads, the heating required for thermal units restricts the ink formulations they can support and their firing speeds.

The Versamark CIJ product line—previously offered by Scitex Digital and now again part of Kodak—launched the color ink-jet production press category. Its top-of-the-line Versamark VX5000 Plus model produces 3,272 ipm (81⁄2x11? format) at 300x300 dpi or 2,180 ipm at 300x600 dpi.