An egg carton printer is primarily used to print essential product information, such as the batch code, packing, and best-before dates of eggs. It is crucial for product safety, regulatory compliance, and traceability. Continuous inkjet printers (CIJ) and thermal inkjets (TIJ) are two of the commonly used egg printers. Although each of them differs in technology, the goal of every manufacturer is to produce high-quality codes for each product.
Getting high-quality prints is possible when you know the optimal ways to use an egg printer. Here are some things you should consider when coding on cartons.
5 Application Tips for Egg Carton Printers
1. Code on the flat end of the carton
A flat surface provides the best print quality for egg printers, and it is also where you can leverage the influence of branding and design. However, if the carton has a unique shape (e.g., curved), a continuous inkjet or CIJ printer allows you to print more flexibly on diverse surfaces, such as plastic or paper-based egg cartons.
2. Print key information
Egg carton printers are typically designed for coding key information, like product batch codes, a packing date, sell-by, or best-before date. CIJ printers like the Linx 8900 series feature an LED touchscreen with a user-friendly interface. It makes it easier to create, edit, and manage codes, as well as reduce changeovers and time needed to deploy new codes.
3. Go for a non-contact printer
Contact marking systems tend to produce inconsistent or untidy prints, like smudges and blotting. Non-contact egg printers like CIJ and TIJ are able to spray ink droplets accurately from their nozzles at a considerable distance from the printing surface. This is what enables clearer, sharper, and more precise codes, no matter the substrate. It also simplifies coding on uneven surfaces.
- Continuous Inkjet Printers – Best for fast, high-volume application. Capable of printing alphanumeric text, symbols, barcodes, and QR codes, and a wide range of character heights. They also contain automatic printhead self-cleaning and quick-change fluid cartridges. CIJ printers like the Linx 8900 series can perform at top speeds and with high performance.
- Thermal Inkjet Printers – Work well with paper-based cartons but can be used with any type of substrate. Can also print logos, alphanumeric text, symbols, and various machine-readable codes. Egg printers like the Matthews MPERIA® series can withstand demanding print jobs and high-speed applications.
4. Choose inks that work with your carton material
Optimize your ink solution so that it delivers long-lasting, high-quality print on cartons. If you use various types of materials for your egg cartons, look for an ink with fast drying time and vibrant results. For instance, PET or PP cartons require methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) ink or inks with high adhesion and smudge resistance. Paper cartons work best with water-based inks.
5. Regularly clean and maintain your printers
Regular cleaning and preventive maintenance extend the life of any printer. It also helps deliver consistent, sharp, and vibrant codes on every package. Usually, it is best to pay attention to the printheads, but with recent models from Linx, its printheads are now designed to be self-cleaning, minimizing the need for frequent servicing.
Deliver consistently accurate information by using the right egg carton printer. Do not hesitate to explore cost-efficient solutions with an expert, so you can further narrow down complex printing requirements and enhance your productivity.
ALSO READ: 4 Types of Industrial Thermal Inkjet Printers
Looking for a reliable industrial machinery supplier? Elixir Industrial Equipment, Inc. offers tried and tested solutions for your CIJ and TIJ printing needs. We also provide professional guidance and assessment of your overall production system, product usage training, and preventive maintenance for a broad range of machinery. Get in touch with us today and let us know how we can help.