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Introducing Integration Technology Ltd (ITL)
Established in 2000 to address the UV needs of emerging technologies,
British company Integration Technology Ltd (ITL) has grown rapidly.
ITL is the world's leading designer of ultra-violet (UV) curing systems
for the inkjet printing market, with a 30% share. The company's share of
the graphics sector rises as high as 50%.
UV digital inkjet technology
Inkjet printing is expected to grow substantially over the next 3-5
years by coupling versatility to economy.
Its technology allows printing onto a huge variety of surfaces including
glass, plastics, ceramics and metals. Results are increasingly high
profile, ranging from printed hoardings on the side of buildings to
printed graphics on truck and bus bodies.
Inkjet also enables faster response times and lower set up costs than
traditional printing systems, providing a key advantage in effecting low
volume, variable print runs at a lower price.
UV curing shares inkjet's upward trajectory.
Inkjet printers using UV are expected to increase share within the
overall inkjet market as ink developers recognise benefits in instant
drying, lower operating costs, reduced space utilisation and improved
quality without odour or the presence of residual solvents.
The inkjet printing market is split between narrow and wide format.
Narrow format printers are generally home or office printers printing A4
and A3 paper sizes. Wide format printers are capable of printing
materials from over 24 ins. wide and are typically used by commercial
and industrial customers.
ITL is currently focused on wide format printers.
The fastest growing market segment, its total expenditure is estimated
to increase by over 17% per annum over the next 3 years. Meanwhile, the
hardware segment of the market - most relevant to ITL - is also forecast
to grow at around 10% per annum over the same period.
The ITL product line
ITL designs and assembles a range of state-of-the-art products at its
headquarters on the historic former air base at Upper Heyford, near
Oxford. The existing premises were secured in late 2000 after a summer
designing the prototype for the company's debut: VZero.
A range of highly compact, ultra lightweight, modular UV systems
configured for a variety of inkjet and industrial applications including
large and grand format inkjet printers, VZero remains to this day one of
the most effective, high-output, high-quality UV emitters for its size
on the market.
In May 2002, having identified the potential for UV curing to move from
the large format inkjet printers onto smaller office sizes plotters, ITL
unveiled a concept prototype of a very small lamp unit constructed using
plastic and ceramic mouldings called project SubZero.
Used
for medium format printers and marking and encoding applications using
20mm inkjet heads, this lightweight, high output, miniature emitter is
currently the leading selling UV system in the inkjet market.
Three further products in development offer fresh opportunities for
business growth in new markets and applications from 2010.
ITL R&D Reputation
Intense commitment to research and development (R&D) has positioned the
ITL brand globally as a byword in innovation and quality.
The
company has kept at the forefront of technical developments in the
inkjet industry, and helped support its market growth by coupling the
development of cutting edge products in working partnerships with
developers and major customers, in addition to managing its own
proactive R&D.
The first developer of UV emitters to recognise the unique needs of wide
and grand format UV inkjet printers ITL created a solution in
ultra-light, small footprint high power systems designed to withstand
cyclic movement.
ITL worked with a number of partners to develop a product addressing the
expanding static head UV inkjet market, expanding the technology into
the narrow label market as well as identity card printing, CD and DVD
printing markets.
The
company has also worked tirelessly to bring advanced UV technology to a
huge variety of applications such as 3-D modelling, robotic
applications, medical device assembly, electronic track printing, solder
mask, etch resist processes, conformal coatings, genetics, automotive
curing, cell phone assembly, hardware printing, packaging, UV tampo
printing, white goods, aerospace and many others.
ITL Manufacturing
ITL has a streamlined assembly process for its state-of-the-art products
located at its headquarters near Oxford. Most materials are outsourced,
either as components or sub-assemblies, from a multiplicity of
suppliers.
From new product development through to manufacturing and customer
service, inspection and quality is central to all ITL's activities. The
company manufactures the majority of its products in accordance with US
Underwriters Laboratories Inc ("UL") standards and is audited by them
quarterly. ITL is both an ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 accredited company.
A combination of in-process inspection and final inspection is used to
verify that all design criteria are met and the quality of ITL's
products is maintained.
The ITL Team
ITL has a strong and competent management team with considerable
industry and technical expertise instrumental in the successful delivery
of the company's development strategy.
Company founder and managing director, Adrian Lockwood is supported by
four senior managers: David Johnson, Global Accounts Director; Jason
Smith, Director & Chief Technical Officer; Geoffrey Knibb, Operations
Director; and Jason Cairns, Financial Controller.
The team manages a workforce of over 45 full time employees in total at
Oxford.
The Company has offices in the USA, China and Korea while access to the
Japanese market is provided through a distribution relationship.
ITL is committed to ensuring that staff are properly trained and
experienced in order to conduct exacting jobs to the highest standard
and the company is currently working towards Investors in People (IiP)
accreditation.
The Future for ITL
Its expertise in developing more powerful, smaller UV curing systems -
including LED based systems - brings ITL firm potential business from
other industries utilising UV curing applications, such as automotive,
medical devices and electronics.
ITL is a dominant and fast growing developer in an expanding market -
with even brighter prospects still to come.
Further information at
http://www.uvintegration.com/
ends
Issued April 2009 on behalf of Integration Technology Ltd by
petermuir public relations
Whiteleaf Business Centre, Buckingham Industrial Park, Buckingham MK18
1TF, UK
tel 00 44 (0) 1296 715228 fax 00 44 (0)1296 715486
Editor's Note:
For comment/interview with ITL management and/or technologists, contact:
Peter Muir peter.muir@pmpr.co.uk
tel. 00 44 (0)1296 175228
mobile 00 44 (0)7703 648077
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