Episode 333 - Extending Performance: Why Printhead Recovery is Becoming Critical in Industrial Inkjet, With Aliasgar Eranpurwala, Seiko and Edgar Llop, People & Technology
In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Frazer Chesterman speaks with Edgar Llop and Aliasgar Eranpurwala about printhead performance, recovery, and the launch of a new diagnostic technology set to change how the industry measures print quality.
The conversation centres on the introduction of ANA (Automatic Nozzle Test Analyser), developed by People & Technology and launched at Interpack. Designed to provide a detailed, data-driven assessment of printhead condition, ANA analyses printed patterns to identify missing nozzles, droplet deviations, clustering, and other factors that impact overall print quality.
Edgar explains how the system moves beyond traditional visual checks, offering a precise “map” of printhead performance. This enables manufacturers, developers, and operators to better understand how printheads behave in real production environments, and to take a more predictive approach to maintenance and quality control.
Aliasgar provides context from the Seiko Instruments perspective, highlighting the increasing demands placed on coding and marking applications. As the industry shifts towards more complex QR codes and higher data density, even minor defects can render codes unusable, making consistent print quality critical.
The discussion also explores the realities of industrial inkjet environments, where dust, vibration, ink chemistry, and operator handling all influence performance over time. Together, these factors reinforce the need for both robust printhead design and effective maintenance strategies.
A key theme throughout is collaboration. By combining Seiko’s expertise in printhead development with People & Technology’s capabilities in diagnostics and recovery, the partnership aims to extend printhead lifespan, improve reliability, and reduce total cost of ownership for end users.
A timely and practical discussion on why measuring, maintaining, and understanding print quality is becoming just as important as achieving it in the first place.
