The joint R&D laboratory “I-MAG” aims to develop innovating magnetic media, magnetic components and characterization methods dedicated to magnetic printing. It is initiated by the company NIPSON Technology SAS, a world’s leading company in the design of magnetography. 

The Institut Jean Lamour (IJL), at Université de Lorraine, is internationally recognized in the field “nanomagnetism and spintronics” and magnetic recording (e.g. hard drives), whose tools and concepts are commun to magnetography. The joint laboratory “I-MAG” responds to an increasing need for innovation because of the competition from other digital impressions and versatility needed to niche markets covered by NIPSON Technology. It will allow to understand and improve the various magnetic processes (writing, development and demagnetization) in magnetographic systems. NIPSON Technology has excellent phenomenological knowledge about writing process on magnetic drum and toner attraction that allows incremental improvements. However only a more fundamental understanding of the process at the micrometer or nanometer scale allows disruptive changes of the printing methods. From this basic understanding, the objective of the joint laboratory “I-MAG” is therefore to provide innovative technology solutions to current limitations in printing quality and speed. The company cannot solve these problems alone because it requires costly advanced equipment as well as scientific knowledge related to recent developments in the field of magnetism and the growth of magnetic thin films. In parallel, the expected results of this scientific industrial research program lies in understanding the mechanisms related to the magnetization and demagnetization magnetic thin films, their magnetic configurations and particle attraction processes magnetized ink by the films. This knowledge is more widely required in the development of micro-actuators, sensors and biocompatible devices. 

The first research axis of “I-MAG” is the investigation of specific characterization means for performing a mapping with micrometric (maybe nanometric) precision, magnetic domains written on the print drum. The second axis of research aims at increasing the speed of printing presses, while maintaining the current printing quality. It will rely on micromagnetic simulations and magnetic design. The last two axes will be devoted to produce benches to allow magnetization and demagnetization tests on representative samples and not from actual pieces. Then in a last part, the field source systems will be implemented on an R&D dedicated printer to work in actual writing condition.