What Are the Benefits of Adding Thermal Inkjet Printers to Labeling Machines?
If your business relies on coding and marking equipment in your daily operations, you want a labeling printer capable of producing high-quality printing with minimal upkeep. Especially so if your business involves pharmaceuticals, food & beverages and cosmetics where the legibility of ingredients and expiry dates is crucial.
Depending on the size of your operation and the type of packaging and labels you require, you may want to employ some sort of thermal technology for printing. There are 3 basic types found in commercial operations, with each one offering distinct advantages.
- Thermal transfer
- Thermal direct technology
- Thermal Inkjet printing
For the purpose of this blog, we are mainly concerned with the unique applications and benefits of thermal inkjet printing for business labels.
What Is Thermal Transfer and Thermal Direct Technology?
In order to determine if thermal inkjet printing is appropriate for you, it’s necessary to understand the differences between the common thermal printing technologies for businesses.
Thermal transfer printing uses a heated printhead to melt a ribbon (usually wax, resin, or a combination of both) onto the label material. The heat causes the ribbon to transfer ink onto the label for durable, long-lasting labels that can withstand the elements (moisture, heat).
Direct thermal printing uses heat-sensitive paper (thermal paper) that turns black when exposed to heat from a thermal printhead. This type of printer does not require ink, toner, or ribbons, which makes it a less expensive printing option. Its speed makes it ideal for high-volume labels that don’t need a long lifespan (shipping labels, retail receipts).
What’s the Difference Between Thermal Inkjet Printers and Other Options?
Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers, sometimes called bubble printers, employ ink cartridges to produce high-quality, full-colour labels with lots of detail.
A small resistor heats the ink inside a tiny nozzle chamber (up to 300°C), which causes the ink to vaporize, forming a bubble. The bubble’s rapid expansion forces a droplet of ink through the nozzle, which is expelled onto the substrate (printing surface). The bubble collapses once the ink is ejected. The more nozzles the printhead contains, the higher the resolution.
Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers involve pressurized ink, solvents, and high-frequency vibration. Although they print faster than TIJ models, their mechanisms are more complex and require additional power to operate. With CIJ printers, the ink is continuously ejected and recirculated, which can be wasteful. Regular maintenance and cleaning are also necessary to prevent clogs.
Both of these kinds of inkjet systems can print directly onto the substrate surface, including everything from cardboard boxes to plastics. Whereas print and apply labeling machines involve additional steps and components.
Why Choose Thermal Inkjet for Your Labeling Purposes?
Thermal inkjet printers are the preferred option over continuous inkjet printers for applications where ease of use, lower cost, and maintenance-free operation are top priorities.
The simplicity of TIJ printers makes them an ideal choice for home-based businesses or companies dealing with small-to-medium-size industrial applications. Thermal technology offers numerous benefits.
- TIJ printing tends to provide better resolution on flat, porous, and non-porous surfaces when compared to CIJ printers.
- TIJ printers use ink cartridges that are easy to replace.
- Less maintenance means less operational downtime.
- TIJ printers are generally more compact and lightweight than their CIJ counterparts.
- Printing on fabric with a TIJ printer is accomplished much faster than it is with traditional screen printing.
- TIJ printers eject precise ink droplets, which helps minimize ink wastage.
- While CIJ printers are faster and better suited for high volumes, TIJ printing can be more efficient on smaller print runs.
- TIJ printing doesn’t require ventilation systems to deal with the resulting solvent vapors.
- TIJ printers are recommended for detailed printing of barcodes, QR codes, expiration dates, and other critical product information on packaging and labels.
- TIJ printing is suitable for paper, plastic, metals, cartons, and other materials, even if the surface is curved or concave.
- Thermal technology provides straightforward integration into your current production process.
- The modular nature of TIJ printing systems makes it easy to adapt to changing production requirements.
- TIJ printing is relatively quiet.
Additionally, for businesses with frequently changing product lines or seasonal variations, on-demand printing allows for easy updates without the need for new pre-printed label stock. This means you can print labels as and when you need them, reducing waste and ensuring you always have the most up-to-date information on your products.
TIJ printers are typically small and lightweight, which allows them to be integrated seamlessly into any existing workspace. This is ideal for companies with a limited floor area or anyone wanting to streamline their production lines. If you need advice on how to accomplish this, Accent Label Automation is available to advise!
Accent Label Automation Offers Compelling Custom Solutions
Incorporating thermal inkjet printers into your company’s labeling process can enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve the appearance of your packaging.
Whether your priority is flexibility, increased speed, high-resolution printing, or environmental sustainability, Accent Label Automation offers compelling custom solutions for businesses looking to improve their efficiencies.
Contact us today to discuss all your labeling needs.