Xaar has collaborated with bespoke inkjet machinery manufacturer Inkatronic to accelerate the development of high-viscosity, water-based inkjet printing for decorative interior applications, including furniture, wall cladding, and architectural elements.
The project centres on Xaar’s Aquinox printhead, combined with a newly enhanced fluid development process designed to reduce traditional barriers to inkjet adoption. Together, the technologies enabled reliable, high-quality printing onto porous wood substrates, which are typically challenging due to high absorbency and variable surface characteristics.
Inkatronic worked with Nazdar’s pre-approved high-viscosity water-based inks, using Xaar’s in-house print trials and waveform expertise to validate performance in under a month. The inks were formulated to stay on the surface of the wood rather than soaking in, helping to minimise ink wastage while delivering consistent coverage and strong visual definition. This fast-track approach allowed Inkatronic to produce customer-ready samples quickly, without the need for upfront investment in bespoke ink development.
Based in Austria, Inkatronic specialises in solving niche industrial challenges through in-house R&D and turnkey machine design. The company employs around 20 people and focuses on areas including functional coatings, battery cell applications, and digital printing.
“Working with Xaar has significantly accelerated our development timeline,” said Mikael Boedler, business development lead at Inkatronic. “The Aquinox printhead’s ability to jet high viscosity fluids whilst maintaining sharp image quality at a 5mm throw distance, combined with reduced clogging and extended open time, has been a game-changer. Their pre-developed waveforms and close R&D support helped us move from testing to customer-ready samples in weeks, not months.”
The collaboration also highlights sustainability benefits. By switching from UV to water-based inks and printing in a single pass, Inkatronic has reduced energy consumption and removed the need for UV curing equipment. The company is now exploring further applications, including additive manufacturing, using the same inkjet platform.
Commenting on the project, Neil Cook, head of strategic marketing at Xaar, said: “We are delighted that Xaar is helping innovative companies such as Inkatronic open new applications for inkjet printing. Inkjet technologies are proving to be a game changer in many forms of manufacturing and this project proves that with our products and processes we can help accelerate development and innovation.”
