Domino Printing Sciences has launched a Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) solution specifically designed for flexible packaging lines, including food applications.
The new TIJ-into-TTO solution with the Domino Gx series (TIJ) has been developed as an efficient, cost-effective alternative to conventional thermal transfer printing (TTO) for flexible packaging lines that print one, two or four lines of text codes and small 2D codes up to 10 mm.2 need.
Prior to launch, the TIJ-into-TTO solution was tested at test sites with simple text code requirements served by existing TTO technologies. With customers the switch to the thermal inkjet printers of the Gx series This meant that consumables no longer had to be changed twice per shift, but only once every four days.
„As a global, cross-technology provider of coding, marking and labelling solutions, Domino is committed to helping its customers find the ideal coding solution for their specific requirements. Whilst thermal transfer printing has long been the preferred option for flexible packaging lines, we recognise that this is not always the optimal solution when it comes to total cost of ownership. We developed the TIJ-into-TTO solution as an easy-to-use, efficient and cost-effective solution for manufacturers with simple coding requirements that may not be effectively served by existing TTO solutions.“
Alex Mountis, Senior Product Manager - High Resolution Inkjet, Domino Printing Sciences
For Simple printed text codes and small-format 2D codes Domino's new TIJ-into-TTO solution offers the same code quality as TTO solutions while enabling significant Cost and waste savings, as the inefficient use of ribbons in standard TTO printers can increase the overall cost and waste per print. The TIJ-into-TTO solution also offers benefits in terms of reduced downtime for consumable changes and machine interventions due to ribbon breaks.
Sample calculations have shown that the TIJ-into-TTO solution offers a Waste savings of up to 95 per cent and cost savings of 70 per cent on consumables and downtime compared to standard TTO solutions that print one- and two-line text codes and four-line text codes with two printheads. This means that manufacturers who opt for the TIJ-into-TTO solution can expect to recoup their investment in just 12 months.
The TIJ-into-TTO solution with the Domino Gx series has been developed as a direct replacement for existing thermal transfer printing applications, utilising the same fixtures/frames as the most common TTO solutions. This enables seamless integration into existing production lines, without the need for complex installation changes and customisations. In addition, the TIJ-into-TTO solution has been developed with an integrated printhead heater to maximise performance in challenging environments where cold temperatures have previously made ink-based coding a problem, e.g. Deep-freeze applications in the food industry.
The solution is suitable for a wide range of plastic and metallised film applications with a range of ink options for different application requirements. These include a wide range of inks manufactured to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and suitable for use on packaging without direct food contact, including Snacks, confectionery and single-serve packaging. To ensure that manufacturers receive the optimum coding and marking solution for their specific requirements, Domino undertakes extensive testing to ensure the suitability of the printer for the substrate to be labelled and specific production environments.
Source: Domino
