Thermal Inkjet for Packaging
PRINTERVENTION Episode 4
It's an INTERVENTION in episode 4 of PRINTERVENTION as we talk to Ryan about the compact, affordable and powerful thermal inkjet (TIJ) printer line, ANSER. The half-inch U2 Smart, the one-inch U2 SmartOne and the solvent based cartridge U2 Pro-S all have the same footprint but can and are used for a wide range applications and substrates. Ease of install and use is just a couple of things that make them some of the most attractive solutions to people that need to print clear, high resolution date codes, lot codes, bar codes, QR codes, logos and messages on boxes, cases and products as well as product packaging.
As the authorized U.S. distributor of Anser printers, InkJet, Inc. works closely with the manufacturer to ensure quality and ease of use for customers. Watch the video below and check out the printers here.
[TRANSCRIPTION]:
Welcome to another episode of Printervention. This is a video series we are doing here at InkJet, Inc. to really to help packagers and solve their marking and coding issues and maybe provide a service to them that is sometimes a gap in the industry.
I am with Ryan today. Ryan is one of our inside folks and covers a big portion of the country in the Northeast and Midwest. We are going talk a little bit about our TIJ, thermal inkjet line or printers, which the brand is Anser.
Ryan, you've dealt a lot with the TIJ product. Why don't you start by telling us what people are typically using our Anser products for and why they are so popular.
Ryan: TIJ is a really good technology because it is really hands OFF. Really low maintenance to zero maintenance. You're not having to clean printheads and do as much touches with the technology which is a beautiful thing for production facilities. They love them.
Typically, it (thermal inkjet) is has been used for case coding purposes. We've come a long way in the last few years as far as inks are concerned for thermal inkjets. So it has opened up the market for a lot of different industries and applications that we haven't been able to hit on in the past. Inks have come so far that they can hit on glass, plastic substrates, films, things of that nature
Marc: So maybe describe a little bit...you said it's popular with boxes and corrugate, that type of thing...and then with film...what is the difference in the TIJ line when you are going to choose something that is going to print on something that is a little more complicated or non-porous, compared to just printing on a box. What are you going to choose and why would you choose that printer?
Ryan: TIJ is actually great for non-porous and porous. The reason TIJ is gaining so much traction right now is ease of use. It's cartridge based. Every time you change out an ink cartridge, you're getting a brand new printhead, so you don't have a complicated fluid system to manage or anything like that. So you are just pulling out a cartridge and putting the cap back on it and that is your preventative maintenance.
Marc: I guess I was trying to lead you to, maybe the difference between why someone would just the Pro-S, which is solvent based, compared to the Smart or SmartOne. What is the Pro-S doing that the others are not?
Ryan: The Pro-S opens up your entire ink portfolio. There are no limitations, the Pro-S can run everything. All of our solvent inks. It can run our S2 cartridges, which is our really aggressive, fast drying ink. Even on glass substrates, it can achieve dry times of 1 to 3 seconds. On HDPE, PPE, things of that nature. Anywhere from 1-2 seconds on film. You can get it to dry almost instantly without any heat or UV curing. It's a really easy ink to maintain and hits on a ton of substrates. Now, you're SmartOne and half inch Smart are specifically for corrugate. It keeps the cost down on the unit and they run our water-based inks.
Marc: And is it usually not high speed?
Ryan: You know, It will actually fly. It's not going to be as fast as CIJ, where you are printing on a bottling line or something like that. But it should be able to hit up to about 250 feet per minute. It can actually move, even with the four inches of print height at the 1/2 inch.
Marc: Awesome, well, a couple of things...Ryan created a how to video on creating a message and a tour through the menu on one of the printers and that video is available below this interview and on YouTube.