Interview with Memjet Wide Format Guru, Kevin Shimamoto
Date: December 1, 2011
New York, NY -- CI:When did Memjet begin exploring wide format technology, and why? KS:The group was formed in November 2007 and founded by Kevin Shimamoto, Joe Milkovits, and Mike Puyot. Previously we had all worked at Kodak and at HP together. Kodak made the choice to get out of the wide-format segment, so we were recruited to come work as the wide-format group for Memjet.
The wide format printhead is actually the same a4 print head used by all four Memjet commercialization companies, just five (5) of them stitched together. The printheads were designed in a way to make that easily possible.
CI:I know right now about the 42” wide printers, what other size printers can use the Memjet printhead? Does Memjet plan on making any different sizes of print heads in the future? KS:For the development work. figuring out how exactly to stitch the printheads together was the most complicated. The 42” width itself was based on what markets we were going into. Through everything though, our wide format print heads are designed to make the print head modular so it is easy and quick replace parts as needed. We think that with the right design and partners we could essentially create a design that they could use in any size configuration.
CI: I think it’s safe to say the Memjet is building a global reputation for their speed. What are the differences (besides size) in the standard A4 printhead and the wide-format one? KS:As we said before, the 42” wide print engine consists of five (5) A4 printheads staggered and put together. With the printheads together for wide format printing we make it possible for people to print at either 6 or 12” per second. The print speeds and print modes are the same as our standard A4 printhead. The square footage for a wide format printer is significantly higher than other wide formats in the industry AND THEY are not at the same place we are.
CI:What types of businesses is the current Memjet-powered wide format designed for and are there other industries where you could see the technology being used that haven’t heard about Memjet yet? KS:Right now the industries we are involved with or designed for are: CAD documents, GIS applications, architectural plans, and technical documents production. We also envision being used in production graphics which includes things like making signage for trade shows and the like.
We see that there is much bigger opportunity in the transition from analog to digital in the commercial print segment. There’s a lot of different technologies and different adoption rates. A lot of wide format segments like newsprint, packaging, and textiles have not made the switch [from digital to analog] yet. We are envisioning a change in the print infrastructure. With the technology we have at Memjet, it enables both speed and color at a lower price point which is a valuable proposition.
The ideal place for our technology would be manufacturing and converters where they would print what they need, when they need, thereby enabling them to do short runs and allow them to change the business model and ensure dynamic processes. That type of process would also cut down on the amount of waste which would save businesses money as well.
CI: Where do you see Wide Format printing going in the next 5 to 10 years? KS:A lot depends on the adoptions of new technology in the industry. Over the past 15 years, there hasn’t been revolutionary change, though each year there have been smaller improvements made. We believe that we will see that both our speed, cost and color will be the disruptive force the industry has been waiting for. In the industry as a whole, there will be more done with UV curable solutions and latex based inks (like what HP has done). As companies grow with the technology much faster it should result in much lower costs for them.
