Indigo Digital Printing was sold to Hewlett-Packard for US$830 million in 2002, marking a major milestone in the commercial print sector. The company had revolutionized production by bypassing traditional printing plates, instead enabling direct computer-to-paper imaging. This development established the foundation for Benny Landa's long-standing influence within global printing technology and his subsequent work in nanotechnology.
Early life and academic background
Born in Poland in 1946, Landa moved to Edmonton, Alberta, at age two. His father utilized bicycle parts and pulleys to create a camera that printed directly onto paper, avoiding film entirely. Landa pursued physics and engineering at the Technion, followed by psychology and literature studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, later graduating from the London Film School.
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In 1969, Landa joined CAPS, a micrographics firm, where he developed imaging products for Rolls-Royce. He co-founded Imtec in 1971, creating high-speed image development methods using charged liquid toner. Upon immigrating to Israel in 1974, he founded Indigo Digital Printing. His 1993 debut of the E-Print 1000 at IPEX allowed for variable data printing, transforming the marketplace for short-run production.
Nanography and Landa Group ventures
After selling Indigo, Landa established The Landa Group to explore nanotechnology. His research into nanoparticles led to the development of Landa NanoInk and the process of Nanography, which uses inkjet heads to eject droplets onto an intermediate belt. Introduced at Drupa in 2012, these presses operate on a variety of substrates, including untreated paper and plastic, with the high-speed W10P model capable of producing 200 square metres per minute.
Philanthropy and professional board service
Landa and his wife, Patsy, founded the Landa Fund for Equal Opportunity Through Education in 2002, which has provided over $50 million in scholarships. The fund also supports initiatives promoting tolerance between Jewish and Arab citizens. Landa serves on the boards of governors for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv University, and the Technion, while holding various chairman and director roles across multiple corporate entities.
Fast facts
- Born: 1946, Poland
- Citizenship: Israel
- Indigo Digital Press founded: 1977
- Edwin H. Land Medal: 2002
- The Landa Group founded: 2003
- Israel Entrepreneur of the Year: 2014
Questions readers ask
What is the primary function of Landa's Nanography?
It is a digital printing process that utilizes nanopigments deposited by inkjet heads onto an intermediate belt before transferring the image to paper.
What is the focus of the Landa Fund?
It provides university scholarships and supports non-profit organizations focused on education and fostering understanding between Jewish and Arab citizens in Israel.
Achievements
- Edwin H. Land Medal — 2002
