At a news conference at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada, Xerox scientists unveiled the patented process, code named "EA Technology," that has been in development for more than eight years. The technology will be incorporated into a range of the company's color products worldwide.
"XRCC has found a whole new way to develop the world's most advanced color dry ink to further advance Xerox's leadership in the highly attractive and growing business of producing color documents," said Dr. Rafik Loutfy, vice president and head of XRCC in a press release.
"Companies focused on bringing color office and production digital printing products to market see chemically produced toner as the next wave in color toner technology," said John Shane, director, CAP Ventures, a strategic consulting firm, in the same release. "Vendors who want to be serious players in color digital printing will have to master this technology and offer its benefits to customers if they wish to be competitive well into the future."
The Technology
A group of Canadian scientists, led by Dr. Loutfy, conceived the idea behind EA Technology at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada almost a decade ago. The group selected the EA Technology concept from a number of alternatives to create a new, more economical way of making very small toner particles. Subsequently, XRCC researchers worked with research and development colleagues in the United States and Fuji Xerox in Japan to mature EA Technology.
Scientists perfected the EA Technology process over eight years and the process uses a controlled method to chemically grow toner particles from molecules up to particles of any desired size and shape. Pulverizing chunks of toner compound and sifting them to collect the proper size of toner particles creates conventional toner. While conventional methods have been improved over time to maximize toner yields and performance, the mechanical methods are still energy-intensive.
The EA Technology process is far more environmentally friendly, using much less energy since the toner particles are produced by non-mechanical means. It is a water- based, low-energy process in which particles are "grown" to the required size. They are isolated from the growth compound and processed for use.
Dr. John Seely Brown, Xerox chief scientist, said in a press release, that the development has implications for the future adoption of color in everyday situations. "In much the same way that color television changed household entertainment, EA Technology will change the office mindset," he said. "Once all the components are there -- quality, affordability and accessibility -- there is never a need to go back to the old way. If color printing is now considered a luxury, EA Technology has the power to make it mainstream."
The quality of the printing with toners from EA Technology is approaching that of offset printing with liquid ink because of the extremely small size of the toner particles, often measuring between 4 and 5 microns, about half the size of previous toner particles. Because of the new material's size and uniform circular shape, the toner particles transfer efficiently and uniformly to the receiving paper, wasting less and needing less to form the print. This results in color prints that more accurately depict subtle, graded or shifting tones and hues.
Availability
Xerox expects the new EA Technology will be available worldwide in selected Xerox- and Fuji-Xerox-manufactured products starting in 2002. However, certain Fuji-Xerox products will begin to use the new toner technology later in 2001. As Xerox manufacturing plants are equipped with the process, the toners will be used across selected products in the company's toner-based color product line.
