Dr. Doug Edwards becomes Chief Executive Officer of Xaar plc, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, succeeding Ian Dinwoodie, who previously announced plans to retire in 2015. Dinwoodie joined Xaar in 2001 and had served as CEO since 2003.
Xaar primarily develops and manufacturers piezoelectric inkjet print-heads, including technology for applications like ceramic tile decoration, coding, graphics, labeling and packaging.
In March 2014, when Dinwoodie announced his upcoming retirement, Xaar launched its new 1002 GS6 print-head, building from the existing 1001 GS6 product, for UV applications, primarily aimed at the production of labels, laminates, direct-to-shape, packaging and other types of product decoration.
Xaar states the 1002 GS6 print-head (featuring 1,000 nozzles) is designed to jet high-opacity white inks, as well as high-viscosity varnishes, which is enabled by Xaar’s patented TF Technology for ink recirculation and the Hybrid Side-Shooter architecture.
Edwards joins Xaar from Eastman Kodak Company, where most recently he served as President, Digital Printing and Enterprise. He has been a member of Kodak’s Executive Board since 2006. Edwards started his career in the UK in a variety of technical roles with Ilford Limited, ICI, Zeneca and International Paper before moving to the United States 14 years ago with Kodak Polychrome Graphics (a former joint venture company between Sun Chemical Corporation and Kodak).
“It is a privilege to be asked to lead Xaar through this next phase of the company’s development,” said Edwards, who holds a BSc in Chemistry and a PhD in Conducting Organic Materials from London University. “Excellent progress has been made by the company over the last decade but the future opportunities ahead of the company in the world of digital printing are substantial, and I am pleased to return to the UK to take up this challenge.”
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