Thermal inkjet printing is used across a wide variety of industries. Its ability to mark across diverse substrates makes it essential for the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and retail sectors. TIJ is a form of drop-on-demand (DOD printing) technology. It is one of the most cost-efficient and accurate coding and marking systems.
There are many types of thermal inkjet devices that any manufacturer can integrate into the production line. Speed up your marking operations by knowing which kind of industrial printer is right for you.
4 Kinds of Thermal Inkjet Printers for Efficient Production
1. Inline TIJ
Traditional thermal inkjet printers can be attached to or mounted on the production line. This allows you to perform automated, large-scale marking using conveyor belts and complex systems. New models use an intuitive touchscreen panel display to navigate through messages, error logs, and language support. They also include barcode and QR functionality so that you can achieve efficient information coding. Like most TIJs, inline printers are updated with the latest cost-calculation algorithm to determine the ideal ink drop distribution and consumption, so you can mark waste-free.
Inline TIJ printers like the Matthews Marking Systems MPERIA® L-Series are built to withstand harsh and high-output environments.
2. Handheld TIJ
Roving workspaces and small-scale operations need a compact and lightweight TIJ printer. Handheld printers are capable of both small and large prints up to 25mm print height. Its main advantage is its portability, which makes it perfect for cord-free and mobile applications; however, it is typically powered by lithium ion battery and has an uptime of only 8 hours.
If this sounds right for your manufacturing floor, then Markcom’s newest Mark-1H and Mark-1H Pro are the TIJ printers you should consider.
3. Small and Large Character Printers
Smaller printing requirements, such as barcodes, text, date, and time, typically don’t go beyond 12mm. Secondary or tertiary packaging materials, on the other hand, need large characters up to 25mm. Look for the right industrial TIJ model that can deliver print in sizes that suit your needs. For instance, the Markcom I series is best for smaller characters, while the Markcom II TIJ printers are great for big logos, text, and codes.
4. Interchangeable Ink Type
Thermal inkjet is initially designed for water-based ink and solvent-based ink. Thanks to emerging technologies, manufacturers created interchangeable ink printers to maximize the use of compatible refill cartridges. This way, you can use cartridges across different models in the same series and swap between machines as needed.
The various types of printers offer diverse levels of efficiency when it comes to TIJ. Assess your manufacturing needs to discover which model/s work best for your business goals. Finally, the best way to make the most of your options is to consult a reputable industrial equipment supplier, who can deliver customizable solutions for you.
ALSO READ: A Manufacturer’s Guide to Using Thermal Printer Ribbons
Elixir Industrial Equipment, Inc. offers practical solutions for thermal inkjet printing. Our line of products from Markcom are built to last in harsh production environments. With the right additions to your manufacturing line, you can code accurately and efficiently, reduce printing errors, and increase your productivity. Get durable, customized solutions from us today. Send us a message to get a quote.