The inkjet printing system uses Epson’s S800 PrecisionCore inkjet printheads and a six-axis industrial robot and lifting mechanism. 

It will be the first time the system has been shown outside Japan.

Epson said the combination could print onto complex objects, such as items with grooves and curves, “with outstanding quality and accuracy”.

The S800 is the smallest printhead in Epson’s micro piezo inkjet PrecisionCore range.

The system features “precision trajectory control” and image processing for printing onto curved surfaces.

Resolutions is 600x600dpi, with support for up to five colours – CMYK plus white, although Epson described this as customisable. Print width is 33.8mm.

Epson said the mechanism controlling the five printheads can move each one independently either up or down, in order to “conform precisely” to the shape of the object being printed.

It illustrated this concept using a guitar, pictured above.

The Japanese manufacturer has developed the system at its Inkjet Innovation Lab in Nagano Prefecture and is looking to agree partnerships for a commercial roll-out.

After the Automatica show, which runs from 24-27 June at Messe Munich, the system will be installed at the Epson Germany facility in Düsseldorf, “providing a test and evaluation environment for customer substrates and accelerating real-world implementation”.

Automatica is focused on intelligent automation and robotics. Exhibits are categorised under key themes: assembly and handling technology, industrial robotics, service robotics, industrial image processing, and software and cloud computing. 

A high-tech summit forms part of the expo.