Xerox Introduces Printer Nozzles Half the Size of a Human Hair

Xerox, Norwalk, Conn., introduced stainless steel nozzles inside its new Direct to Object Inkjet Printer that are half the diameter of a human hair for personalizing 3-D objects.

According to a press release, the nozzles are in print heads that are about the size of a deck of cards, and spray ink on objects, such as plastic, metal, ceramic and glass.

"This innovation opens a path for creating customized products instantly at a time when the consumer's appetite is all about personalization," Brendan Casey, vice president of Xerox Engineering Services, said in a press release. "Imagine a sports fan coming home from a game with a helmet or ball that was personalized right at the stadium, or a retailer offering on-demand personalization on hundreds of different store items."

"The real innovation here is that we can now print on items, such as steel water bottles with multiple curves, without the setup time and costs that analog printing, such as flexography or screen printing, require," Wayne Buchar, chief engineer for Xerox Engineering Services, said in the press release.

For more information on Xerox, visit www.xerox.com.