Xerox’s line of solid ink printers are a remarkable feat of technology. Solid ink printers have many major advantages over inkjet and laser printers, and are becoming increasingly popular in the business world. But where did the solid ink technology come from? Here is a brief history of the solid ink printer.

Solid ink technology got its start with Tektronix, Inc., a US company that got its start in 1946 producing test equipment such as oscilloscopes. In later years the company would expand into other areas of technology, such as computer terminals, flatbed plotters, and television and video equipment. In the past, Tektronix has been allied with larger companies such as Sony, operating in Japan under the name Sony-Tektronix.

In 1986, Tektronix invented solid ink technology, which used solid sticks of ink instead of powders or liquids. Though the technology had been around for years, Tektronix didn’t develop a working ink jet printer until 1991. Although the first ink jet printers were fairly successful, it had many problems. In order for solid ink jets to spray directly onto the paper, it required a large amount of movement, and when combined with heavy printheads, it resulted in a printer that rocked back and forth violently. Also, as the printheads printed in separate “bands” of color, it was difficult to achieve alignment within the image.

Starting in 1995, Tektronix began using a different design that involved spraying ink onto a drum, instead of the paper. This drum would then roll across the page, transferring the ink to the paper. This design fixed many of the problems of earlier designs, and is still used in modern solid ink printers.

In 2000, Xerox acquired the Tektronix Color Printing and Imaging Division, which included all of its solid ink products and technologies. Today, Xerox is the only major manufacturer to produce solid ink printers. Its Phaser and ColorQube series of printers are extremely popular, and still utilize the designs and innovations created by the Tektronix company so many years ago.

Xerox’s line of solid ink printers are a remarkable feat of technology. Solid ink printers have many major advantages over inkjet and laser printers, and are becoming increasingly popular in the business world. But where did the solid ink technology come from? Here is a brief history of the solid ink printer.

Solid ink technology got its start with Tektronix, Inc., a US company that got its start in 1946 producing test equipment such as oscilloscopes. In later years the company would expand into other areas of technology, such as computer terminals, flatbed plotters, and television and video equipment. In the past, Tektronix has been allied with larger companies such as Sony, operating in Japan under the name Sony-Tektronix.

In 1986, Tektronix invented solid ink technology, which used solid sticks of ink instead of powders or liquids. Though the technology had been around for years, Tektronix didn’t develop a working ink jet printer until 1991. Although the first ink jet printers were fairly successful, it had many problems. In order for solid ink jets to spray directly onto the paper, it required a large amount of movement, and when combined with heavy printheads, it resulted in a printer that rocked back and forth violently. Also, as the printheads printed in separate “bands” of color, it was difficult to achieve alignment within the image.

Starting in 1995, Tektronix began using a different design that involved spraying ink onto a drum, instead of the paper. This drum would then roll across the page, transferring the ink to the paper. This design fixed many of the problems of earlier designs, and is still used in modern solid ink printers.

In 2000, Xerox acquired the Tektronix Color Printing and Imaging Division, which included all of its solid ink products and technologies. Today, Xerox is the only major manufacturer to produce solid ink printers. Its Phaser and ColorQube series of printers are extremely popular, and still utilize the designs and innovations created by the Tektronix company so many years ago.