Xennia successfully develops new applications for industrial inkjet

Tag : Textile Pigment
Xennia successfully develops new applications for industrial inkjetmarket (Marketwire Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) ALMELO, NETHERLANDS, June30 / MARKET WIRE/ --

In January 2008 TenCate acquired 75% of the shares of Xennia
Technology Ltd. near Cambridge (UK). The main reason for this
acquisition is primarily to accelerate the opportunity to useinkjet
technology to produce technical textiles. Inkjet technology has the
potential to replace existing finishing and coating technologiesand
create new materials for the technical textiles sector.

Within the Digitex R&D project, which is subsidized by the EU
Commission, TenCate, Xennia, Xaar and other companies andinstitutes
have worked together in order to use inkjet technology to create
breakthrough innovations in technical textiles for the European
sector.

A number of important inkjet developments carried out by Xennia in
recent years have also generated valuable applications in other
industrial sectors like product decoration, packaging, material
deposition and specialist printing. Inkjet deposition of functional
materials is a key area for Xennia's business and is expected togrow
strongly over the next few years. Xennia offers an extensive
portfolio of functional chemistry and inkjet printer platforms that
can be customized for specific industrial applications. Xennia can
integrate fixed or scanning XenJet print engines into production
equipment in order to jet chemical materials on many different
substrates.

Recent developments

An example of one important recent development is Xennia'scommercial
launch of a fixed array single pass industrial printer for ceramic
tile decoration. This machine has been developed for Creta Print
(Spain). The print process gives a random and natural look and feel
to ceramic tiles, which can replace marble, granite etc. There is
already a large interest in this system and Xennia plans a global
launch with their OEM partner. More than 10 orders of this systemare
expected during this first year of launch. The outlook and forecast
for orders in the coming year indicate a substantial growth of this
innovative solution for the ceramic tile industry.

Xennia also have other significant opportunities for its print
engines and inks in applications such as labeling, packaging,
production line product decoration and materials deposition,Material
deposition systems can be used for printed electronics such assolar
sells, antennas, semi-conductors and active displays. Market
estimates inkjet printing of electronics will reach a level of
approximately EUR 3 billion in the next five years.

Importance for TenCate

TenCate sees opportunities for inkjet technology for its protective
fabrics and outdoor fabrics activities and will launch new products
with new or improved functionalities in the near term, leading tothe
production of "smart textiles". For TenCate, thisdevelopment will
also create large cost savings, such as environmental and energy
costs, in the next five years period. Xennia is well positioned to
provide solutions in this emerging market.

Besides the importance of inkjet for the coating and finishing of
fabrics TenCate also sees opportunities for synthetic turf, and
composites activities.
Coating of these materials on a nano-scale can create new
functionalities. For synthetic turf it can create better sliding
performance, a more natural look and feel and for compositematerials
it can add sensoring and monitoring of the material. R&Dprojects in
these areas have been started.

TenCate will not explore opportunities outside its core markets.
Through Xennia, which will commercialize its solutions through
leading OEM's, it will indirectly benefit form developments inother
sectors. Xennia will continue its operation as before the
acquisition, but will be able to benefit from the global network of
TenCate.

Inkjet technology has been given a special position as aninnovative
technology by the national Dutch Innovation Platform. TenCate has
formed an alliance with the existing consortium (High Prints), with
leading Dutch industrial parties like Oc?, in order to join forcesin
this technological area in connection with open innovation. TenCate
will apply this technology only for its core activities infunctional
materials. Other industries will be enabled to apply the knowledge
base of Xennia / TenCate on a license basis.

In the current year Xennia will give a limited positivecontribution
to the results of TenCate. Results are estimated to grow