The trade tensions between China and the United States have not officially escalated, but the prices of inkjet printheads produced in the U.S. are already increasing. Fujifilm’s Starfire printheads, known for their widespread use, are among the first to be affected.
These printheads are manufactured by Fujifilm Dimatix, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Fujifilm Holdings.
The company was originally established as Spectra Inc. and later renamed Dimatix following its acquisition by Markem Corp. of Keene. In 2006, it was acquired once more, this time by Japan’s Fujifilm Holdings Corporation.
By 2020, Fujifilm Dimatix had grown its annual revenue to over $300 million, a significant increase from just $15 million in 1998. Currently, 70% of its revenue comes from international markets. With over 800 patents, Fujifilm Dimatix is recognized as one of the leading inkjet printhead producers globally, shipping hundreds of thousands of units annually. Depending on the model, unit prices range between $400 and more than $1,000.
The company also maintains a presence in Shanghai, with the Chinese market contributing 30% of its global sales. Additionally, about 35% of its raw material sourcing is done through suppliers in China.
Fujifilm Dimatix manufactures its printheads at two facilities located in the United States. The Santa Clara, California site employs around 250 people who are primarily focused on the design and production of silicon wafers used in their printheads. In Lebanon, New Hampshire, the company has another factory with approximately 500 staff members.
The printhead product lineup from Fujifilm Dimatix includes several well-known series, such as Samba, Aurora, Starfire, Sapphire, Emerald, S-type, Galaxy, and Nova.
Fujifilm Business Innovation recently announced the development of a cutting-edge printhead drive technology tailored for high-speed, continuous-feed color inkjet printers used in commercial printing. This innovation delivers ultra-sharp image quality with a resolution of 1200×1200 dpi, paired with an impressive printing speed exceeding 105 meters per minute. This advanced drive system is a newly introduced technology by the company.
Fujifilm's newly introduced drive technology optimizes ink ejection control, allowing for faster printing speeds without sacrificing image clarity. The Fujifilm Group has long utilized its high-performance SAMBA printheads in the Jet Press series of digital inkjet presses. These printheads feature continuous ink circulation near the nozzle area, which helps prevent ink from drying out and avoids nozzle blockages. This ensures consistent ink flow and enables stable, high-quality output even during extended print runs.
By incorporating this new drive technology with SAMBA printheads, the system delivers sharp image resolution at 1200×1200 dpi while maintaining printing speeds of over 105 meters per minute.
Fujifilm has announced plans to begin developing a new line of high-speed, web-fed color inkjet printers that will integrate this advanced printhead control technology.
