Super Sharp Printing and Zero Down Time with Thermal Inkjet

The way food and drink manufacturers print traceability information on their products is changing. According to non-profit barcode provider, GS1, 2D or data matrix codes are set to become the new global standard in traceability marking by the end of 2027. The new format codes contain much more data as they include a greater number of characters than their barcode counterparts.

However, providing so much information in a relatively small area means the data matrix code needs to be sharply printed in high resolution.

Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers offer a simple solution to these printing requirements. The printers print 300dpi at a print height from 1mm – 51mm and can use water or solvent-based inks to print data onto a variety of substrates.

They use a cartridge-based ink delivery system to print super-sharp high-resolution logos, QR codes and date and batch code information at speeds of up to 200m/min.

T-Mark is a supplier of TIJ printers from Chinese manufacturer, Sojet, and is supplying more and more of them into the food and drink sector.

For primary packaging, which needs to be marked with batch codes and best before dates, the Sojet MoTix printers are ideally suited.

The basic model in this range uses 1 printhead to print 12.5mm high. The printer uses HP ink cartridges, each with an integrated printhead, giving a low-maintenance, high quality print solution in a range of ink colours. The Moli MoTix range is new from Sojet and offers a darker print at higher print speeds than Sojet’s previous best-selling range, the Sojet Elfin series.

The Sojet Moli MoTix printer with 2 printheads

With the MoTix range, up to four printheads can be combined to print up to 51mm high at the same resolution.

AAK Foods has bought two Sojet printers to mark its bottles with traceability information and is impressed with the reliability of the machines. Engineering Manager, Neil Heselwood, said: “The Sojet has incurred zero line downtime in 18 months, the only maintenance is a wipe of the head and replacement ink cartridges. So the fact that the printer costs less to purchase than a service pack used in an inkjet coder is remarkable.”