CIJ printer series (Continuous inkjet)

Continuous inkjet printer: a game-changing innovation

Unlike other printing technologies which use an ink cartridge with an integrated printhead and expel each ink droplet as needed, the CIJ printer is a non-contact technique whereby a continuous stream of electrically charged ink droplets from the printhead nozzle passes through an electric field and onto the print surface. Unlike a standard office printer, the CIJ printer never touches the material. The new generation of continuous inkjet printers offers speed, consistency, and versatility on all substrates, from plastics to cartons, and under all operating conditions. The benefits don’t stop there, however.

High-speed printing operations with multiple lines typically take place in demanding environmental conditions. The latest CIJ printers can adjust if product conditions change automatically – due to a temperature change in the factory, for example – without compromising print quality or speed. Ask any operator in the FMCG sector what they desire from a modern CIJ printer, and the ability to carry out accurate coding at high line speeds in harsh production environments would likely be near the top of their wish list. For example Markem-Imaje’s 9750+ enables them to do just that by using premium technical dye or pigment inks for contrast coding on virgin substrates and extrusion.

Talking of game-changing innovations, companies can, for the first time, operate one type of printer rather than multiple machines with different inks, thanks to a revolutionary polyvalent ink circuit in the 9750+ that enables coding with both dye or pigmented ink for improved inventory management. Using dye or pigmented ink, the hybrid coder provides the flexibility to print either standard dark or color-contrasted codes, a boon for cosmetics packaging, say, which is often dark rather than white.

CIJ printer to reduce downtime, energy use, and emissions

New-generation CIJ printers offer unrivaled benefits in limiting downtime and waste. Machines like those designed by Markem-Imaje can print millions of codes before they require preventive maintenance, which in turn means fewer spare parts and, crucially, no flushing or waste additives for reduced negative environmental impact.

Our CIJ printers consume just 30W of electricity during standard usage, or less than a light bulb, and setting the 9750+ in ‘consumable-saving mode’, the hybrid coder is capable of generating up to 35% fewer volatile organic compounds than versus the non-hybrid model, even without the use of less harmful, MEK-free inks. Many customers find it hard to manage coding and marking tasks due to limited time, resources, and knowledge. To solve this, manufacturers should use new technologies and work with reliable partners who understand the shift to eco-friendly materials and how it affects the market. Markem-Imaje's Connected Printer Services use IoT to improve printer performance and coding efficiency. Users can easily control individual printers through a user-friendly interface and get support from experts. This approach not only makes CIJ printers more efficient and eco-friendly.