Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers have certainly made a big impression on package coding over the last few years.
This is due to several factors, including advances in ink technology, excellent print quality and high efficiency thanks to minimal maintenance requirements.
However, TIJ technology has always had a couple of drawbacks:
- The print swath (maximum height of the print) of a single printhead is usually limited to 12.7mm (about 1/2 inch)
- The very short throw distance (the maximum distance from the printhead to the product being marked) requires very accurate product handling.
The limited print swath of these printheads makes them unsuitable for printing many GS1 2D codes, which are often larger than 12mm square.
TIJ printhead manufacturers have recently been introducing new printheads that overcome these limitations.
Last year, HP launched the ThermaCore, a new TIJ printhead with a 23mm print swath and throw distance of up to 9mm.
And more recently, Weber Marking Systems has launched the Markoprint X1JET LX Ultra, a new thermal inkjet system featuring a 25.5mm (1 inch) printhead from Brady ID.
The LX Ultra is an addition to the Markoprint X1 line, an intelligent print system that includes both HP-based and LX-based technologies.
As with printers incorporating the HP ThermaCore printheads, the new LX Ultra will be ideal for companies that need to print online 2D codes, such as QR codes with GS1 Digital Link.
Currently, the LX Ultra specs state that only aqueous inks can be used, so the printer will be used to print on porous materials. Since Brady is developing a version of their printhead for solvent inks, printing on non-porous substrates should be possible in the future.
If a handheld printer makes more sense for you than an inline one, the LX Ultra is also available as a portable battery-powered version.
