Xaar has introduced an updated version of its Versatex high-performance digital inkjet printbar, designed to extend digital capability across analogue print and converting lines. The new model targets applications including label varnishing, foil embellishment, and braille printing.
The latest Versatex features an upgraded ink delivery system that doubles the speed of its High Build Print Mode, allowing 100μm laydowns to be achieved at 50 metres per minute, up from 25 metres previously. It also offers improved performance for high-opacity whites, achieving 85% opacity in a single pass.
Powered by Xaar’s Nitrox printheads, the printbar can jet fluids with viscosities up to 1000 centipoise at ambient temperature, enabling builds exceeding 200μm for demanding effects such as varnish, cold foil, and white flood fills. Xaar’s High Laydown Technology and High Creativity print modes provide laydowns between 15 and 100μm in a single pass for finishes including gloss, matte, and spot varnish.
A new braille mode increases both print speed and definition, addressing growing demand for tactile labelling – particularly in markets such as Spain, where braille requirements for FMCG packaging are under discussion.
Other enhancements include an upgraded Meteor datapath for faster data handling and workflow compatibility, as well as new flexibility for press direction, with the printbar now configurable for both left-to-right and right-to-left setups. The compact unit integrates with conventional presses and finishing lines, supporting both inline and offline operation.
According to Xaar product manager Tom Mooney, the new Versatex was developed in response to customer feedback, offering improved speed, precision, and versatility for industrial converters and label printers.
The updated Versatex builds on the original printbar launched in 2023 and is available through OEMs and distributors including Nilpeter and Jet Technologies.
