Leading supplier of industrial inkjet printheads Xaar has leased a third facility on the UK's Cambridge Science Park to increase R&D floor space by 50%, to 48,000ft2. In the past 12 months, the company's R&D staff has grown by 60%, to 130 employees.
The opportunity to boost its R&D team and facilities follows Xaar's outstanding financial performance over the last few years. Sales grew by 78% in the first half of last year compared with the same period in 2012, and profits were up 231%.
In addition to the growth in R&D staff, the team has been re-structured into two divisions to accelerate product development and maximise effectiveness. The Bulk Piezo Technology Division focuses on developing new products and product variants based on Xaar's current successful technology; the Thin Film Piezo Technology Division is concentrating on next-generation technology and products which will enable the company to target a wider range of applications.
The first Thin Film Piezo product is due in 2016.
