Many! Each requiring its own specific pre-treatment, curing level, finishing etc.
Examples: MDF and other wood derivatives – fibre cement – PVC – SPC – WPC – ABS – PS – Aluminium and other metals – glass – leather.

Yes! There are virtually no limits.
You may need to consider the following factors in some cases:

1. Printing resolution will affect minimum printable detail.
2. Specific surface characteristics of the substrate.

Yes, but the quality may not be quite as good.

Flat panels are perfect for inkjet technology because the substrate is always kept very close to the print heads.

You can also print on slightly raised panels if you follow a few basic rules:

1. Ink droplets will not reach vertical or severely inclined surfaces.
2. Print heads must be less than 7 mm from the surface to avoid blurred printing.

Strategies to overcome the above involve larger ink droplets, but result in grainier effects.

Our technical experts can evaluate such issues on a case by case basis.

Yes, you can print on both.

Edges
We have developed a digital printer for edge foils handling thicknesses from 0.1 to 2 mm and a useful printing width of up to 500 mm (19.7”).

Profiles
Considering the issues answered in questions 1 and 3, direct digital printing on profiles is possible.

We have developed a digital printer for skirtings and other profile types. Preparation and finishing must be defined case by case.

Depending on the printer model in our range, we can ensure the following maximum useful widths:
Single-pass up to 1540 mm (60.6”).
Multi-pass up to 2500 mm (98.4”)

We can only measure objective quality. Subjective quality is a question of taste.

Here are some objective factors:

1. Resolution or dpi (dots per inch) is a measurable value. Our range of industrial digital printers work at resolutions of 400x400 dpi or 400x800 dpi (where 800 dpi is parallel to the direction pieces travel in single-pass printers)
2. Colours are a measurable factor using a spectrophotometer, providing the area measured is large enough for the sensor. The naked eye evaluates colour more effectively, but it is subjective.
3. Image sharpness will also depend on the base coat and printer set-up.
4. Colour shades and contrast will be affected by the layers of top coats

One key issue is consistent acceptable quality over time.
This can be achieved by implementing the following activities:

1. Check hardware set-up daily: align the print heads, clean the nozzles.
2. Check software set-up regularly: ensure nozzle compensation and shade uniformity across the conveyor.
3. Ensure correct workflow and follow it strictly at all times: coating process control, colour profiling, image management, raster image processing (RIP).
4. Define and perform Print Quality Assessment & Maintenance daily.

Whereas multi-pass printers generally print single pieces, our single-pass printers also print in “batch one” mode.
To maintain excellent productivity, we have made it very quick to switch from one design/pattern to the next on our single-pass solutions.

Firstly, this does not mean “rapid prototyping”. It means creating a superficial 3D effect, a texture.
Yes, it is possible.
Achieved digitally on single-pass and multi-pass printers, there are 3 methods we advise to obtain different characteristics, all of which create a 3D effect. Depending on the end usage of the finished product, we would recommend one of these methods.

1. Flexibility. It is simple to change from one design to the next as often as required.
2. Unit cost is in no way connected to batch size.
3. Quick response to fast-changing market demands and fashions.
4. Very short lead time from the idea to the first sample.
5. Ability to test countless variants, evaluate and pinpoint market trend instantly.

1. Handling large volumes. This technique is not for mass production.
2. Economies of scale. Unit cost does not drop in line with higher volumes.
3. Learning curve. Many end-users are at the start of the learning curve and need to develop some skills and knowledge to exploit the technologies. We can support you.

• Flooring
• Panel decoration
• Door decoration
• Edge-banding
• Fibre cement decoration
• Profiles
• etc.