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 solventbased inks to print data onto a variety of substrates .
They use a cartridge-based ink delivery system to print supersharp 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 up to 12.5mm high . The printer uses HP ink cartridges , each with an integrated printhead , giving a lowmaintenance , 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 .
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The Sojet can print as small as 1mm high ( 2mm high shown on lid )
For primary packaging , which needs to be marked with batch codes and best before dates , the Sojet MoTix printers are ideally suited .
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 a ( continuous ) inkjet coder is remarkable .”
T-Mark can supply across Europe from its offices in the UK and in Belgium . For more information , visit www . t-mark . co . uk
The Sojet Moli MoTix printer with 2 printheads
AAK Foods printing date and batch information onto its bottles