Choosing an industrial inkjet printer is a big decision. Inkjet coding and marking is an essential part of the production line and can have a significant impact on the success of your business.
The 6 secrets of CIJ: what do you need to know before investing in an industrial inkjet printer?
Most manufacturers rely on CIJ printers for coding. Coding information often needs printing directly onto products or packaging. Industrial inkjet printers are the key to this – and the key to making the right buying decision is to take into account the following six important points.
1. Ink should never dry out on the print head!
There is one problem that has always concerned users of industrial inkjet printers. Because the ink has to dry quickly, it can also dry out when coding is paused. This clogs the nozzle and requires a laborious and time-consuming cleaning and rinsing operation before production can start up again. Not only that, the first few prints after cleaning can be of a lower quality. But how to solve the problem when the ink is designed to dry instantly on products and packages?
One of the industry’s most convincing answers come’s in the form of Leibinger’s Sealtronic printhead technology. The way Sealtronic works is wonderfully simple. The ink return line, or gutter, is automatically retracted into the nozzle when coding stops and the printer is switched off, creating a hermetically sealed, air-tight circuit. Most other printers leave the return line open, exposing the ink to the air, allowing it to dry and clog the nozzle.
With the nozzle seal in place, the ink stream remains pressurized. When you want to re-start coding, the ink gutter moves into its open position and within seconds, the system is ready to print. Equipped with the automatic Sealtronic nozzle sealing system, Leibinger inkjet printers are coding again in just a few seconds and always start with a clean print. It also offers the advantage of using less consumables.
2. A continuous inkjet printer needs to fit into your production line - not the other way around
All production lines are different, and require different solutions. This means you may need your inkjet industrial printer to be installed in a very small space, or for the print head to be installed at a non-standard angle. You should look for a printer that is flexible enough to fit in with the way you work. Also ensure that it provides all the connections you need to ensure easy integration into your existing production systems.
3. Choose the nozzle size and speed you need on your CIJ printer
It is also true that production lines run at different speeds and have different legibility requirements. Barcodes, text characters and logos need to be legible and, if you are printing on smaller items, you may need a small character inkjet printer with a finer nozzle instead of a larger nozzle.
If your coding applications require faster printing, make sure you choose CIJ solutions that can keep up. Some cable printing solutions, for example, can operate at up to 1,000m every minute.
4. A continuous printer needs to be tough
Industrial printing systems need to be durable. Production environments, such as food productions, timber yards or flour mills, can be extremely dusty or subject to high hygiene regulations. Such conditions require a stainless steel housing without plastic elements and often a pressurized printhead - which ensures that dust particles are not able to interfere with printing.
Many food producers need to adhere to stringent hygiene requirements, which frequently involves washing down equipment, including printers. It may therefore be necessary to look for industrial inkjet printers with IP65 protection in order to withstand the rigours of the daily wash-down.
5. They need to be supported by a manufacturer you can trust
Many manufacturing operations are global and industrial inkjet printing is a specialist field. Choosing a manufacturer with global operations - one that is able to support you when you most need it - is essential. Responsive, expert support in the event of any inkjet printing problems could make an enormous difference to your productivity.
6. A continuous ink printer must be simple to use
While your production line may be largely automated, manual intervention is often required – for example, when the information printed on each product has to be manually altered. Make sure that the printer you choose has an easy-to-use display screen and differentiation between administrator access and worker access.
Here at AIS we are proud to partner with Leibinger to offer their fantastic range of inkjet coding and marking industrial printers. Contact us today to find out more.