Xaar appoints CTO

As chief technical officer, Creutzmann has overall responsibility for Xaar research and development (R&D) and reports directly to Xaar chief executive officer Ian Dinwoodie.

Creutzmann has over 30 years of digital printing (R&D) experience spanning LED, electrophotographic and inkjet imaging technologies. He most recently served as vice-president of printer technology at Océ Printing System GmbH.

His appointment is part of Xaar’s major investment in R&D and manufacturing. The company has invested over 40 million GBP (66 million USD) in R&D alone over the last five years, and in 2013 grew its R&D headcount by 64 percent to 133 employees and expanded its facility on the Cambridge Science Park by 50 percent to 4,459 sq m. In addition, Xaar continues to expand and streamline manufacturing and, by the end of this year, will have invested over 60 million GBP (99 million USD) in its factory in Huntingdon, UK, since it opened in 2006.

The investment in R&D comes on the back of record 2013 revenues of 134 million GBP (221 million USD), 55 percent higher than in 2012.

‘Xaar’s innovative inkjet technologies are transforming digital printing and manufacturing processes on a global scale and we are evolving these technologies to deliver powerful new levels of flexibility and performance,’ said Dinwoodie.

‘Our R&D investment and effectiveness is fundamental to our future success and Edmund's appointment is a key enhancement of our leadership team. He has exactly the right depth and breadth of experience across multiple digital technologies that we need to direct our significantly enlarged R&D operation.’