Episode 286 - Data, Discipline and the Future of Inkjet: How Droptimize is Redefining Jetting Performance

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, we speak with Raphaël Wenger, co founder of Droptimize, a Swiss engineering company bringing a data driven workflow to one of the most complex corners of industrial inkjet: waveform optimisation.

Wenger shares the origins of Droptimize, which grew out of years of hands on optimisation work at the iPrint Institute. The manual process of logging variables, testing parameters, and tracking results was slow and error prone. Droptimize was created to automate that workflow and give engineers reliable, searchable access to all waveform and jetting data. Today, the company provides both optimisation services and drop watching instruments with integrated data management.

We explore the challenges of industrial inkjet development, from the sheer number of parameters involved to the difficulty of working at high frequencies and long throw distances. Wenger discusses how Droptimize has enabled customers to unlock new performance levels, including a recent automotive printhead project where Droptimize identified a completely new waveform that is now in commercial use.

The conversation also covers broader industry trends, including the rise of data driven development, increasing interest from ink manufacturers, and the movement toward automated or self optimising workflows. Wenger gives insight into emerging applications such as robotics based direct to shape printing and the long term potential of bioprinting and tissue engineering.

Looking ahead, Raphael sees three major trends shaping the future of inkjet applications. First, direct-to-shape printing is gaining momentum and often involves long-distance jetting—a technology that needs optimized waveforms to maintain print quality over extended printing gaps. Second, high-viscous jetting is emerging, and these applications often rely on multiple pulses to shear-thin the ink until jetting is achieved. When combined with direct-to-shape, this will enable the use of inks similar to paints for decorating complex 3D objects. Finally, he sees long-term potential in biomedical applications, an emerging frontier where inkjet technology could play a transformative role in tissue engineering. The scalability of inkjet is particularly well suited for this, as it can print very fine structures—such as blood capillaries—at dimensions matching those of living tissue.

Raphael also previews his presentation at FuturePrint Industrial Print in Munich, where he will demonstrate new Droptimize capabilities including misting analysis, high frequency stability testing, and the company’s nozzle navigator for rapid full head characterisation.

This is an essential listen for anyone involved in inkjet integration, ink development, waveform optimisation, or advanced industrial printing.

FuturePrint Events:

FuturePrint TECH: Industrial Print: 21-22 January '26, Munich, Germany