iPRINT - Institute for Printing

Digital manufacturing enabled by inkjet printing

The iPrint institute is specialized in inkjet technology and digital printing. Our multidisciplinary applied research develops these technologies and widens their field of application through the creation of new processes. iPrint also offers practice-based training courses on inkjet technology.

Expertise in inkjet-based digital printing

With multidisciplinary expertise covering every aspect of digital printing, iPrint is uniquely capable of developing new technology and processes, and contributing to innovation.

International network

iPrint maintains a broad and thriving network of industrial and academic partners. We are a key contributor to the growth of the inkjet industry.

World-renowned training center

Thanks to a practice-based approach and to our state-of-the-art infrastructure, iPrint has become a global leader in inkjet training solutions.

Research focus areas

iPrint’s research focuses on technological innovation at every step of the digital printing process while also developing specific inkjet applications for a variety of industries.

Innovative Technologies

INNOVATIVE PRINTHEADS

For the inkjet of the future, iPrint is researching and developing several core technologies that will expand the capabilities of inkjet printheads and add new features.

INNOVATIVE PRINT SYSTEMS

Inkjet is now being used for printing on 3D objects as well as on 2D, and iPrint is researching and developing the required technology to meet these new challenges in "direct-to-shape" printing.

INNOVATIVE INK SUPPLIES

Having mastered the handling of various ink types, iPrint is doing R&D on the technologies needed for the ultimate ink supply system.

INNOVATIVE PRE/POST PROCESSES

iPrint is researching and developing basic plasma treatment as an on-demand technology for surface modification, just as inkjet is an on-demand technology for printing.

Printing Processes

GRAPHICAL PRINTING

With the aim of improving product performances, developing new products and reducing environmental footprints, iPrint is working on the development and application of new graphical inks for the packaging, automotive, toy, watchmaking, building materials and graphical industries.

BIOMEDICAL PRINTING

From printing living tissues for regenerative medicine, to biosensors and bioresorbable stents, iPrint develops a variety of digital printing processes for the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

FOOD PRINTING

Inkjet printing and other digital printing technologies have been employed to fabricate new or personalized edible products.

PRINTING FOR ELECTRONICS

Several analog printing processes like screen printing have been digitalized at iPrint thanks to inkjet technology, enabling the fabricattion of sensors, multi-functional structures, energy storage devices, coils, etc. Printing and post-treating different materials as conductive, dielectric as piezo-resistive to form multilayers is a technical specialization at iPrint that is enabling the manufacturing of new smart devices in the medical, aerospace, IoT, automotive, and sports industries.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

By combining inkjet printing with other digital techniques such as direct-ink-writing, material extrusion, FDM, pick-and-place, etc. iPrint has succeeded in developing hybrid processes with multi-materials and in overcoming the limitations of individual processes to develop new products. iPrint has also successfully developedvarious binder jetting (BJT) and solvent-on-granule jetting (SG-3DP) processes.

Services

iPrint’s partners benefit from the high-level expertise and experience of our staff and from access to industry-leading infrastructure.

Our services

iPrint provides high-quality R&D services in the following areas:

Innkjet-related technology consulting
Feasibility studies
Ink characterization and optimization
Surface pre-treatment for improved wettability and adhesion
Optimization of printing parameters using drop watching techniques
Post-treatment of printed layers
Characterization of new print heads
Development of new technology

Facilities

To carry out our advanced R&D projects with national and international partners from different sectors, iPrint relies on industry-leading facilities. The institute has more than 20 specialized laboratories and is fully equipped to develop and optimize every aspect of a digital printing process. In addition, we maintain close ties to suppliers of equipment such as print heads and pre/post-treatment units and of materials such as inks and substrates, which allows us to remain at the technological state-of-the-art.

Equipment