Xerox introduces Direct to Object Printer

We saw it at drupa. Xerox´s The Direct to Object printer. And it is available now.
The printer offers new possibilities for on-demand personalisation of threedimensional objects and is unique because of the innovative architecture of miniscule steel nozzles. The nozzles located inside the print heads are so precise that they can print objects as small as a bottle cap and as big as a rugby helmet.  Plastics, metal, ceramics and glass are all materials suitable for the printer so avoiding the necessity of costly labels.

“This innovation opens up a path for creating customized products instantly at a time when the consumer’s appetite is all about personalization,” said Brendan Casey, vice president of Xerox Engineering Services. “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.”

Xerox uses enhanced image-quality algorithms to direct the microscopic nozzles half the width of a human hair. By accurately spraying ink at distances of one-quarter inch,  the printer is able to print on smooth, rough, slightly curved or stepped surfaces at print resolutions ranging from 300 to 1,200 dpi. The printer can handle up to 30 objects per hour, with the ability to scale for production.