Iliya Manolov at Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe, explains how inkjet technology and co-innovation are shaping the future of the print industry
The industrial landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Markets are demanding faster turnaround, more sustainable production and the ability to tailor materials and surfaces on demand. At the heart of this transformation lies inkjet technology. Not just as a tool for decoration or marking, but as a digital-manufacturing enabler.
POWER OF CO-INNOVATION
Nowhere is this shift more visible than in the world of functional coatings. The ability to digitally apply performance-enhancing materials with precision and repeatability is creating entirely new value propositions for manufacturers. Whether it be in the automotive sector, electronics manufacturing, flexible packaging or advanced textiles. However, achieving this requires more than a printhead. It demands collaboration at every level of the supply chain.
Ricoh’s commitment to unleashing the power of co-innovation has shaped how the company approaches every challenge in industrial inkjet. Ricoh sees printheads not as stand-alone components, but as integral parts of a larger system. This system requires synchronised thinking across fluid chemistry, electronics, software, mechanical integration and process engineering.
“Ricoh printheads have been developed with industrial manufacturing in mind”
Ricoh co-exhibited with a group of pioneering technology partners at The European Coatings Show
Ricoh co-exhibited with a group of pioneering technology partners at The European Coatings Show
VISION BECOMES REALITY
In traditional manufacturing, coating processes can be rigid, wasteful and energy-intensive. Spray coating, screen printing and roll-to-roll processes often lack the control and material efficiency that today’s industries require. Inkjet, by contrast, is non-contact, digitally driven, scalable and increasingly capable of handling functional fluids with complex chemistries.
This makes it ideal for a wide range of high-performance coating applications:
Conductive inks – for printed electronics
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic coatings – for packaging and medical devices
Barrier and adhesive layers – for flexible substrates
Decorative and protective finishes – for automotive interiors
Dielectric and insulating materials – in semi-conductor production
However, deploying inkjet in these contexts is not plug-and-play. It requires a high degree of system integration. Precise waveform tuning, ink-receptor compatibility, curing synchronisation and real-time process control are all part of the process. That is where collaboration becomes critical.
CO-INNOVATION MATTERS
Each player in the industrial inkjet value chain brings specialised knowledge to the table. As a leading printhead manufacturer, Ricoh develops platforms that balance drop volume, firing frequency and fluid compatibility. Electronics and software providers, such as Meteor Inkjet, create tools that allow for advanced waveform design, print optimisation and image processing. Furthermore, companies such as IST, ensure that the deposited materials are solidified instantly with the right energy dose. This enables production speeds and physical durability. In addition, diagnostics companies such as ImageXpert ensure that the system performs consistently through drop-watching, nozzle verification and quality control.
Individually, each of these elements is impressive. But when brought together in a co-innovative framework, they empower businesses to go from lab testing to scaled production faster, with more confidence and less risk.
Ricoh, has made it its mission to work side-by-side with ink formulators, machine builders, integrators and end users. These collaborations not only validate the company’s printhead technology, but also help bridge the gap between concept and commercial reality.
INDUSTRIAL RELIABILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
Ricoh printheads have been developed with industrial manufacturing in mind. This means support for a broad range of fluid viscosities and particle sizes, as well as precision jetting across variable throw distances. It also means compatibility with harsh or complex substrates and durable construction to withstand industrial duty cycles.
Ricoh knows that in a coating context, a print company may be jetting something vastly different to water-based CMYK. Manufacturers might be working with UV-curable adhesives, nano-particle suspensions or thermally reactive materials. That is why Ricoh’s engineering teams work closely with partners to optimise every stage of deployment. This ranges from fluid compatibility testing to print-system integration.
IMPACT ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Ricoh’s co-exhibition at The European Coatings Show was not just a showcase of technology. It was a signal of intent. The applications that the company enables through collaborations are already transforming manufacturing:
Automotive Interiors – Digitally applied coatings providing scratch resistance, texture or anti-glare performance, are replacing multi-step analogue processes.
Consumer Electronics – Inkjet-deposited coatings for EMI shielding, hydrophobicity or insulation on compact, complex geometries.
Packaging – Barrier coatings or adhesion promoters applying inline during digital print production, allowing for sustainable and agile manufacturing
Energy and Photovoltaics – Functional layering for perovskite solar cells and battery components, improving precision and reducing material waste.
In each case, what sets inkjet apart is its ability to deliver exact volumes of coating material where and when it is needed. This is achieved with no overspray, no tooling changes and minimal downtime.
CONCLUSION
Ricoh understands that every manufacturer is working from exploratory prototyping to full-scale production. That is why the company’s approach to co-innovation is built around flexibility and scalability. Ricoh is available to make sure inkjet works for a business’s specific needs. It may be the supply of Ricoh printheads for research, support of integration into original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems or co-development of pilot lines with partners.
In the coming years, Ricoh believes that the biggest advances in industrial coating and manufacturing will not come from isolated breakthroughs. They will come from collaborative progress with suppliers, developers and manufacturers pooling expertise to create practical, scalable and game-changing solutions.
BUILDING THE FUTURE TOGETHER
Ricoh is proud to be part of this collaborative movement. It is not only investing in advanced printhead technology, but also in partnerships that make that technology matter. The company is aligning with innovators who share its belief that the future of manufacturing is digital, modular, efficient and precise. If exploring how to implement inkjet in a coating or manufacturing workflow, Ricoh invites companies to join forces. Collaboration, testing, pushing boundaries and solving problems together.
Iliya Manolov
Ink Jet Business Development Manager, Ricoh Printing Solutions Europe
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