Episode 283 - The Shape of Things to Come: Xaar and the Rise of Functional Inkjet

In this episode of the FuturePrint Podcast, Marcus Timson speaks with Justin Noble, Director of Sales at Xaar, about the company’s evolution from a pioneering printhead manufacturer in graphics to a driving force in industrial and functional inkjet.

Justin’s journey from engineering to leadership mirrors Xaar’s transformation – from developing printheads for décor and ceramics to enabling digital deposition in manufacturing, electronics, and energy. The conversation explores how inkjet’s second act is unfolding not on paper or packaging, but inside factories: coating EV batteries, applying dielectrics to semiconductors, and delivering precision fluid layers that analogue processes can’t easily achieve.

Justin reflects on lessons learned from Xaar’s early dominance in ceramics, the costly but formative thin-film experiment, and the strategic refocus on high-viscosity jetting – a breakthrough that allows digital to move into industrial processes traditionally served by spraying, slot-die coating or screen printing.

They discuss the rise of hybrid manufacturing, where analogue and digital techniques combine to create new efficiencies, and the power of partnerships – with universities, innovators like Added Scientific, and global OEMs – to expand what’s possible.

This is a story of resilience, reinvention and relevance – showing how Xaar’s pragmatic engineering and open collaboration are helping re-imagine the future of industrial production.

If you’re interested in where inkjet meets manufacturing, how hybrid systems will define the next decade, and how companies can convert innovation into impact, this conversation is essential listening.

FuturePrint Events:

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