Inkjet’s New Frontier: Transforming Coatings with Precision and Efficiency

This article is inspired by a recent podcast with Holly Steedman, Matthew Pulleand and Jochen Christiaens.

The printing industry has long been associated with traditional graphics, where inkjet technology has established itself as a dominant force. Yet, as manufacturing processes evolve and sustainability concerns heighten, a new frontier has emerged: coatings. At the upcoming European Coatings Show (ECS) in Nuremberg, a collaboration between IST INTECH, Meteor Inkjet, and ImageXpert aims to showcase the transformative potential of inkjet technology in industrial applications. Their partnership underscores a broader shift in manufacturing—where digital processes replace inefficient analog methods, bringing precision, control, and sustainability to coatings applications across industries.

Click on the image to listen to the podcast

The Consortium of Inkjet Specialists

Holly Steedman of IST INTECH, Matthew Pullen of Meteor Inkjet, and Jochen Christiaens of ImageXpert represent three complementary facets of the inkjet ecosystem. IST INTECH specializes in LED curing, a critical component in ensuring coatings dry rapidly and adhere effectively. Meteor Inkjet supplies drive electronics and software, essential for controlling printheads and achieving precise deposition. ImageXpert focuses on drop analysis and quality control, ensuring that materials are jetted accurately and consistently.

Together, these firms are presenting a unified approach to inkjet coatings at ECS. Their goal is to bridge the knowledge gap between traditional coatings developers and the digital capabilities of inkjet. “We want to be the inkjet specialists at the European Coatings Show,” says Steedman. “People can come to us to find out how they can start that journey.”

Why Coatings? Why Now?

Inkjet technology is uniquely suited for coatings applications due to its ability to deposit precise amounts of material without waste. Unlike conventional spray or roller-coating methods, inkjet enables non-contact application, ensuring greater accuracy and minimal overspray. This has major implications for industries such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, and renewable energy, where coatings must be applied with extreme precision.

“I try and take the word ‘ink’ out of inkjet when I engage with customers,” says Pullen. “It’s controlled deposition of a material in a contactless process. That’s a paradigm shift for coatings manufacturers who have traditionally relied on spray or roller methods.”

This paradigm shift is driven by multiple factors. First, sustainability is an increasingly urgent priority. Traditional coatings methods produce significant waste, whereas inkjet minimizes material usage by applying coatings only where needed. In industries such as automotive manufacturing, where paint application is a major cost center, reducing waste translates directly into financial and environmental benefits.

Second, inkjet enables greater customization and flexibility. In contrast to fixed-configuration analog systems, digital inkjet allows manufacturers to adapt formulations dynamically, accommodating new materials or varying substrate conditions without costly retooling.

Finally, regulatory pressures are shaping the market. In Europe, stringent environmental regulations are forcing manufacturers to adopt cleaner, more efficient processes. Digital inkjet coatings, with their ability to reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and material wastage, align perfectly with these regulatory demands.

From Concept to Reality: The Print Pod

A key feature of the collaboration at ECS will be the “Print Pod,” a compact demonstration platform showcasing how inkjet can be applied to coatings. Designed by ImageXpert, the Print Pod integrates Meteor’s electronics and IST INTECH’s curing technology to provide a tangible example of how digital coatings work in practice.“The Print Pod allows companies to quickly and easily investigate the workability of a liquid,” explains Christiaens. “Whether they are developing a new formulation or testing a substrate, this tool helps them understand how inkjet can be integrated into their process.”

For coatings formulators accustomed to traditional methods, the ability to test and validate digital processes before full-scale adoption is crucial. The Print Pod offers a low-risk entry point into inkjet, helping companies assess feasibility without committing to large-scale infrastructure changes.

Industry Adoption: A Growing Momentum

While digital coatings remain a nascent field, adoption is accelerating. “We average 11 new customers a month who are looking at inkjet for some new process,” says Pullen. “Increasingly, these are not in traditional printing applications but in functional coatings, electronics, and precision manufacturing.”

One of the most promising areas is printed electronics, where inkjet enables the deposition of conductive materials with micron-level accuracy. Other applications include medical devices, battery manufacturing, and even renewable energy technologies, where coatings play a critical role in performance optimization.

“It’s about efficiency,” says Steedman. “Manufacturers need to optimize their processes to remain competitive. Inkjet coatings provide a way to achieve that.”

Overcoming Barriers to Adoption

Despite the advantages, inkjet still faces hurdles in coatings applications. Formulation challenges remain a key issue. Traditional inks are designed for printing on paper, whereas industrial coatings must adhere to a wide range of materials, from glass to metal to plastics. Developing inkjet-compatible coatings requires collaboration between chemists, engineers, and printhead specialists.

Additionally, capital investment can be a deterrent. While inkjet offers long-term cost savings, the upfront costs of transitioning from analog to digital can be significant. This is where initiatives like the Print Pod play a crucial role in reducing risk and demonstrating value.

Finally, industry education is essential. Many coatings manufacturers are simply unaware of inkjet’s capabilities. Events like ECS provide an opportunity to bridge this knowledge gap and showcase real-world examples of inkjet’s effectiveness.

The Future of Inkjet in Coatings

As manufacturing shifts toward more efficient, sustainable processes, the role of digital technologies will only expand. Inkjet coatings represent a confluence of efficiency, precision, and adaptability—qualities that align with the demands of modern industry.“Inkjet is more than just printing,” says Christiaens. “It’s a means of moving a liquid from one place to another with precision. That fundamental capability has limitless applications.”

At ECS, IST INTECH, Meteor Inkjet, and ImageXpert will make their case to the coatings industry. For manufacturers looking to reduce waste, improve quality, and future-proof their processes, inkjet may soon become an indispensable tool in their arsenal. The age of digital coatings has arrived.