Konica Minolta IJ Technologies has introduced a high precision inkjet printhead called KM128SNG-MB utilizing silicon MEMS technology.
KM128SNG-MB inkjet printhead (Photo: Business Wire)
The KM128SNG-MB provides an unprecedented microscopic drop size of 1 pL for use in printed electronics applications. It features a tiny 38-mm wide printhead structure comprising 128 nozzles in one row that can release small ink drops. Carefully designed ink path and highly accurate assembly technology delivers stable and highly accurate printing with a small drop size, while offering optimization and ink resistance for low viscosity inks, which are essential for industrial applications.
The printhead offers highly homogenous thin film print thickness at the level of 100 nm. It is available with proprietary drive per nozzle drive board and assessment equipment. The novel silicon MEMS technology allows future nozzle integration based on customer requirements and further scale down of KM128SNG-MB itself. The printhead is helpful in OLED lighting thin-film layer coating, OLED display patterning and latest production technologies to offer high-value-added, high-resolution displays for smartphones and other devices.
Konica Minolta has reported that the market for printed electronics that include next-generation flexible displays is expected to reach ¥2 trillion by the fiscal year 2020. The company believes that its KM128SNG-MB will play a major role in the market. The printhead finds applications in the near future to future-generation printed electronics, which allow minimal resource usage, minimal power and high manufacturability. Konica Minolta intends to sell product samples this spring.