Printing on Pharmaceutical Packaging | InkJet, Inc.

Pharmaceutical production in the United States operates under stringent regulations to ensure safety and traceability. The Drug Quality and Security Act (DSCSA) mandates that pharmaceutical companies label their products with traceable codes and markings. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in fines, product recalls, and other penalties.

In addition to the essential product information mandated by acts like the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) (e.g., product name, quantity, manufacturer details) and the Physician Labeling Rule (PLR) (e.g., active/inactive ingredients, purpose, usage directions), the DSCSA requires companies to include traceable variable data on their products.

These markings include:

Unique product identifiers
Batch codes/lot numbers
Expiration dates
Serial numbers

To meet modern regulations, you must use a high-quality marking system that satisfies specific requirements:

Compatibility with your packaging materials
Suitability for your production line setup
Sufficient specifications to meet your output requirements
Environmental resistance against factors that may disrupt the marking process (e.g., heat, moisture, etc.)

At InkJet, Inc, we offer numerous solutions that excel at printing on pharmaceutical packaging. We carry multiple inkjet printer models, laser systems, and print-and-apply labelers to accommodate different packaging processes, substrates, and facility conditions. Discover how our solutions can benefit your operation below.

Pharmaceutical Marking & Coding Solutions that Satisfy Diverse Requirements

Pharmaceutical product coding is a demanding process. For primary and secondary packaging applications, pharmaceutical companies frequently utilize high-speed production lines that leave no room for error. Hardware malfunctions, misprints, and other issues can cause profit-draining downtime, which means you need a reliable primary packaging solution to meet output demands and remain profitable.

Tertiary packaging applications are equally important. Distribution partners and federal/state regulators require pharmaceutical companies to label their boxes and pallets with traceable markings to facilitate distribution, aid quality assurance, and protect consumer safety.

InkJet, Inc. carries numerous primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging technologies ideal for printing on pharmaceutical packaging. The following table lists our various options and displays their general specifications. Additional information on each option can be located further below.

Click the title in the table’s leftmost column to jump to a specific solution's information.

InkJet, Inc’s Pharmaceutical Marking & Coding Options
Coding Technology	Operating Method	System Options	Maximum Resolution and Print Height	Maximum Marking Speed	Cost Factors	Compatible Materials
Continuous Inkjet Printer	Propels pressurized ink droplets towards the substrate	DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment	70 DPI at 15 mm height	320 m/min.	Low to moderate unit cost, low consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging
Thermal Inkjet Printer	Uses heat to pressurize and eject ink droplets towards the substrate	Anser U2 Models	400 x 300 DPI (height varies by model)	76.2 m/min	Low unit cost, moderately consumable cost	Varies by model
		Anser A1	600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)	300 m/min with HP cartridges, 150 m/min with IUT cartridges	Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging
		Anser X1	600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)	300 m/min	Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging
Laser Marking Solution	Creates a concentrated light beam to mark or engrave the substrate	F8100F Fiber, F8100C CO2, LDR 7100, & F8100U UV Laser Marking Systems	Lenses up to 300mm x 300mm	2,000 characters per second	High unit cost, little to no consumables	Varies by model
Hi-Res Case Coder	Propels oil-based ink droplets to create stark codes	Precision Series 18mm & 72mm	180 DPI at 18mm height or 72mm height	Low to moderate speed	Moderate unit cost, low consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, and other porous materials
Print-and-Apply Label Machine	Auto-prints and applies labels to passing materials	Evolabel	300 DPI (height varies by printer model)	60 m/min	High unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Aluminum cans, plastic bottles, cardboard cartons, plastic bags

Continuous Inkjet Printers: DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are non-contact production line printing systems designed to mark substrates moving at 300 m/min and above. Built with powerful ink circulation systems, CIJ printers can operate up to 24 hours daily without downtime. The wide ink compatibility and versatile printheads of CIJ printers equip users to mark diverse packaging materials, including:

InkJet, Inc. carries three CIJ systems:

All DuraCode systems can mark porous and non-porous substrates at speeds up to 320 m/min. Equipped with an IP55 outer structure and able to operate in temperatures ranging from 41-113° F, the DuraCode CIJ can withstand potentially hazardous environmental elements to deliver consistently excellent results.

The DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen offer the same specifications and compatibility with ink formulas. The only difference between them is their input medium. The DuraCode Pigment has the same specifications as the DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen but uses pigmented ink instead of dye ink.

See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications.

Specification	DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment CIJ Printers
Nozzle	40, 50, 60, 70 μm
Print Height	1.2-15 mm
Maximum Print Speed	Up to 1,050 ft./min (320 m/min)
Print Distance	1-3 in. (25.4-76.2 mm)
Input System	Touchscreen or Standard Keyboard / WYSIWYG
Print Font	5x5, 7x5, 9x6, 11x8, 16x11, 24x17, 32x22
Operating Environment	Temperature: 5-45° C (41-113°F) Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing
User Defined Field	Bar Code, QR Code, Logos, Clock, Counter, Classes, etc.
IP Rating	IP55 Industrial Protection
Gross Weight with Complete Package	45 kg / 99 lbs
Standard Features	Font library - Multi-language support - Traverse printing - 90-degree vertical printing - Special counter Counter replacement - Clock replacement - Encoder port - USB port - Ink recovery pump - Solvent flush pump - Micro print
Optional Add-Ons	Serial port - Network LAN connection - Positive air pump

Thermal Inkjet Printers: Anser U2, X1, and A1 Models

Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers are smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective than CIJ systems. While CIJ systems typically weigh around 100 lbs and can cost well over $10,000, most TIJ models weigh 5-10 lbs and cost as low as $1,499.00.

Although thermal inkjet systems are compact and lightweight, they offer impressive coding specifications. For example, the Anser U2 Smart can create 400 x 300 DPI codes up to 0.5” tall (1” tall with the Anser U2 SmartOne). Higher-end TIJs like the Anser X1and A1 models can create 600 x 600 DPI codes up to 2” tall with stitched printheads. These qualities enable TIJ operators to complete product marking tasks as well as case coding applications

TIJ printers are often designed for slower speed lines and intermittent coding tasks, but some TIJ models offer high-speed capabilities as well. InkJet, Inc. carries numerous TIJ printers of varying specialties and price points. Our current options include:

	The Anser U2 Smart and SmartOne Thermal Inkjet Printer: The Anser U2 Smart is InkJet, Inc’s most affordable printer option. Available for $1,499.00, the Anser U2 Smart is compatible with porous and semi-porous packaging such as cardboard boxes, paperboard cartons, and wood. The system’s max speed is 76.2 m/min, and the max resolution is 400 x 300 DPI. The stock U2 Smart has a max 0.5” print height, while the Anser U2 SmartOne has a max 1” print height.
	The Anser U2 Pro-S Thermal Inkjet Printer: Compact and cost-effective, the Anser U2 Pro-S is a great choice for operations that don’t require CIJ-level marking speeds. Like the Anser U2 Smart and SmartOne, the Anser U2 Pro-S has 76.2 m/min max speed and 400 x 300 DPI max resolution. However, the Anser U2 Pro-S is compatible with more materials, for the printer can mark porous, semi-porous, and non-porous substrates.
	The Anser A1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: The first all-in-one TIJ that offers 2” printing and mid-message DPI adjustments, the Anser A1 is both powerful and affordable. Built with 2 cartridge slots, the A1 can create 2” tall markings with varying DPI elements (e.g., 300 DPI QR code with 150 DPI text). These qualities make the A1 an excellent case-coding printer. For product marking applications, the A1 maxes out at 300 m/min with certain cartridges. It is controlled with a large touchscreen interface.
	The Anser X1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: Even though the Anser X1 is a thermal inkjet printer, you wouldn’t know that from its spec sheet. With printing speeds up to 300 m/min, the Anser X1 is one of the most powerful TIJs on the market today. Beyond industrial speed marking, the Anser X1 offers a 600 DPI max resolution, a 3.87” max print height (with stitched printheads), IP66 protection, and the ability to simultaneously control two production lines.

See the chart below for a closer look into how our TIJ options compare to one another:

InkJet, Inc’s Thermal Inkjet Printer Options
Specification	Anser U2 Smart and SmartOne	Anser U2 Pro-S	Anser A1	Anser X1
Max Printheads	1	1	2	2
Display	3.5” Color LCD with LED backlight	3.5” Color LCD with LED backlight	5” Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen 480x800 (portrait)	7-inch Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen (800 x 480 px)
Input Device	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad
Print Height	0.5” with Smart 1” with SmartOne	0.5”	1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads	1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads
Print Resolution	400 x 300 DPI	400 x 300 DPI	300 DPI	600 x 600 DPI
Print Speed	76.2 m/min	76.2 m/min	121 m/min	300 m/min
Print Distance	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)
Operating Temp.	0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~ 104°F)	0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~ 104°F)	5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)	5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)
IP Rating	N/A	N/A	N/A	IP66
Dimensions and Weight	(L/W/H) 4.5″ x 3″ x 2.5″ 0.49kg (1.08 lb) – excluding cartridge and bracket	(L/W/H) 4.5” x 3” x 2.4” 0.49kg (1.08 lb) – excluding cartridge and bracket	(L/W/H) 6.7” x 5.4” x 4.9” 1.8kg (3.97lb) w/o guide plate	(L/W/H) 11.5” x 5.6” x 2” 2.7kg (6lb)
Compatible Materials	Porous and semi-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials

Laser Marking Solutions: Fiber, CO2, and UV Laser Models

Laser marking systems are perfect for pharmaceutical packaging companies that require high coding speeds, reliable accuracy, and exceptional code appearance. For example, high-output operations frequently use laser systems to meet demanding quotas, minimize coding errors, and enhance their products’ visual appeal.

Laser systems are more expensive than TIJ and CIJ printers upfront, but they do not use any consumables. Moreover, they have minimal maintenance needs and do not require annual servicing. Depending on your product output, these factors can actually make laser marking more cost-effective than inkjet printing.

Inkjet, Inc. offers four laser models:

Our laser systems offer similar specifications and benefits. The F8100F, F8100C, LDR7100, and F8100U provide:

Marking speeds up to 2000 characters/sec.
24/7 uninterrupted coding
Reliable ingress protections
Long laser tube life
Enhanced high-resolution mark quality
Plug-and-play laser module for easy line replacement
User-friendly control panel via computer or smartphone app

Material compatibility is the main difference between our laser options. Fiber, CO2, and UV lasers produce beams of different wavelengths. Beam wavelength significantly influences material compatibility, so it’s important to understand which laser technology is best suited for your substrates as you consider your system options.

This chart illustrates the material compatibility of fiber, CO2, and UV laser systems:

Laser Marking Material Compatibility
Material Category	Specific Material	Fiber Laser	CO2 Laser	UV Laser
Wood, Paper, and Board	Wood	✔	✔	✖
	Thermal Label	✔	✔	✖
	Paper	✔	✔	✖
	Board	✔	✔	✖
	Metallized Board	✔	✔	✖
Glass	Glass	✖	✔	✔
Glass	Glass Fiber	✔	✔	✔
Ceramic	Ceramic	✔	✔	✔
Plastics	Polypropylene (PP)	✔	✔	✔
	Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)	✔	✔	✔
	High-density polyethylene (HDPE)	✔	✔	✔
	ABS	✔	✖	✔
	Polyacetal (POM: polyoxymethylene)	✔	✔	✔
	Polyamide (PA)	✔	✔	✔
	Polycarbonate (PC)	✔	✖	✔
	Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)	✖	✔	✔
Metals	Steel	✔	✔	✔
	Galvanized Steel	✔	✔	✔
	Aluminum	✔	✔	✔
	Titanium	✔	✔	✔
	Copper	✔	✖	✔
	Brass	✔	✖	✔
✔ = Full compatibility ✔ = Limited compatibility ✖ = No compatibility

See the chart below for a closer look into our laser systems’ most important specifications.

Specification	F8100F, F8100C, LDR7100, & F8100U Laser Systems
Marking Speed	Up to 2,000 characters/second
Line Speed	Up to 200 m/min
Wave Lengths	Fiber: 1,055 - 1,070nm CO2: 10.6um, 10.2um, and 9.3um LDR: 10.6um, 10.3um, and 9.3um UV: 355nm
Marking Formats	Standard industrial fonts (Windows TrueType®) and single line font Machine-readable codes (OCR, 2D matrix, etc.) Bar codes: code 128a, code 128B, code 128c, code39, code93, QR Code, Data Matrix, Aztec-Code, Han Xin-Cod Graphics, logos, symbols, etc. Linear, circular, angular, reverse, rotate sequential, and batch numbering Automatic date, layer and time code, real-time clock
Laser Tube	Fiber: Ytterbium (YT) pulsed fiber laser CO2: Sealed CO2 laser LDR: Sealed CO2 laser UV: Solid-state UV laser
Beam Deflection	Steers beam with digital high-speed galvanometer scanners
User Interface	Personalized touch control screen with an easy-to-learn interface
Communication	UDP, TCP/IP, and RS232 Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers 4 inputs/4 outputs for start/stop signals, machine/operator interlocks, and alarm outputs (in addition to safety circuits) Customer-specific solutions are available
Integration	Flexible beam delivery options (beam extension unit/beam turning unit)
Cooling System	Air-cooled
Operating Environment	Temperature: 5-40° C (41-104°F) Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing Inputs for encoder and product detector triggers
IP Rating	Cabinet: IP54 standard
Weight	Approx. 40 kg

High-Resolution Case Coders: Precision Series 18mm & 72mm

High-resolution case coders (hi-res) excel at placing high-quality images and codes on porous substrates.

Slower than CIJ, TIJ, and laser marking systems, hi-res systems like InkJet, Inc’s Precision Series 18mm and Precision Series 72mm are ideal for secondary and tertiary packaging tasks. High-resolution case coders use powerful piezoelectric printheads to create large messages, intricate graphics, and stark images. Hi-res ink is oil-based and thicker than CIJ or TIJ ink, making hi-res codes more durable and visually appealing.

As case coding solutions, Precision Series systems enable users to replace physical shipping labels with printed codes, text, and images. Direct printing holds numerous benefits over manual labeling, including:

Faster coding times
Fewer material costs
Lower risk of coding errors
Better code durability
Improved print quality

By streamlining the case coding process and minimizing errors, Precision Series printers can enhance your secondary packaging processes.

See the chart below for a closer look into the Precision Series’ most important specifications:

Specification	Precision Series 18mm & 72mm Hi-Res Case Coder
Dimensions and Weight (Including Bracket)	(L/W/H) 322 x 183 x 480 mm / 12.7” x 7.2” x 18.9 3.35 kg / 7.38l bs
Line Speed	Up to 200/min
Print Area	53.7mm x 500mm per print head
Print Speed	0 - 60 m/min
Print Head	180 DPI
Operating Environment	Temperature: 5-38° C / (41-100.4°F) Humidity: 10% – 90% (non-condensing)
Internal Memory	42 MB for fonts, images, and labels. The number of labels depends on the size.
Barcode Options	EAN8, EAN13, CODE 39, CODE128, ITF, and QR with adjustable height and module width. Multiple barcodes are possible in one label.
Automatic Shift Codes	Up to 25 shift codes, definable over a maximum of 7 days. Multiple shift codes are possible in one label.

Print-and-Apply Label Machine: Evolabel Systems

Print-and-apply labeling machines (PALM) streamline the labeling process by continuously creating labels and applying them to passing products or shipping cartons. Predominantly used to label shipping cartons, PALM systems can complete primary, secondary, and tertiary applications with the right equipment.

Users can customize their print-and-apply labelers to complete specific tasks. PALM systems are made of multiple components, with two of the most important being:

The printer module, which prints labels on-demand
The label applicator, which dispenses and applies each label to a product, carton, or pallet

By selecting the ideal printer/applicator combo, you can use a PALM system to efficiently label most popular pharmaceutical cases and packaging substrates, including:

The Evolabel Print-and-Apply Labeler is InkJet, Inc’s PALM option. Evolabel systems are compatible with three different printer modules:

We offer numerous applicators to fulfill diverse packaging requirements. Available applicators include

By investing in an Evolabel system, you can simplify your package labeling process, reduce the risk of error, and maximize packaging efficiency.

Diverse Inks for Pharmaceutical Applications

Proper ink choice is integral to product marking success. If you are printing on pharmaceutical packaging with an inkjet printer, you must use a formula that is:

Compatible with your packaging materials
Well-suited for your production workflow
Capable of resisting any potentially disruptive environmental factors
Able to remain highly legible and machine-scannable for the product’s lifespan.

InkJet, Inc. has developed ink formulas for pharmaceutical applications for over 30 years. Today, our robust catalog features formulas for every major packaging material, from plastic to glass to cardboard.

Many of our formulas offer special properties as well, including:

Superior substrate adhesion
Ultra-quick dry times
Alcohol resistance
Heat resistance
Chemical resistance
Sunlight resistance
Extreme temperature resistance
Oil/grease penetration
Condensation penetration
Soft and hard pigmentation

We also offer custom ink services for unique applications and situations.

Printing on Pharmaceutical Packaging is Easy with Inkjet, Inc’s Help

InkJet, Inc. offers everything you need to reliably mark pharmaceutical product packaging. Between our inkjet printers, laser systems, and print-and-apply labelers, we can supply you with the ideal solution for your needs. Contact us today to discuss how to optimize your primary, secondary, or tertiary packaging process.

For more information related to printing on pharmaceutical packaging, contact InkJet, Inc. online or by phone at 1(800) 280-3245.

Back to Blog Articles