A thermal inkjet printer, commonly known as a TIJ printer, is a compact coding and marking system used to print variable information directly onto products, packaging and labels.

TIJ printers use replaceable ink cartridges containing a built-in printhead. Small amounts of ink are precisely ejected from the cartridge to create high-resolution text, numbers, barcodes, QR codes, logos and graphics.

The technology is simple to operate, clean and suitable for integration into existing production lines, conveyors and labelling machines. Atwell’s POLYtij illumex systems use HP TIJ 2.5 technology and are available as fixed production-line printers or portable units.

A thermal inkjet printer can print onto a wide range of porous and non-porous products and packaging materials, subject to selecting the correct ink for the application.

Suitable materials can include paper, cardboard, cartons, labels, wood, fabric, glass, plastic, metal, coated packaging, flexible film and foil.

The correct ink will depend on the product material, production environment, required drying time and the level of resistance needed against moisture, chemicals, abrasion or temperature.

Atwell recommends testing the customer’s actual product before confirming the most suitable printer and ink combination.

Thermal inkjet and continuous inkjet printers can both produce batch codes, dates and variable information, but they operate differently.

Thermal inkjet printers use replaceable cartridges with the printhead built into the cartridge. They do not require the pumps, filters, pressurised ink systems or circulating fluids commonly found in continuous inkjet equipment.

This can make thermal inkjet printers easier to operate, cleaner to use, quicker to start and stop, simpler to maintain, more cost-effective for many applications and easier to change between ink types or colours.

Continuous inkjet may still be suitable for certain extremely high-speed or specialist applications. Atwell can assess the customer’s production requirements and recommend the most appropriate technology.

Yes, Atwell Labellers can integrate date coding printers into your label applicator system. We offer thermal inkjet, thermal transfer, and continuous inkjet printers to meet your specific coding requirements. Our team can help you choose the best option based on your production needs and labelling environment.

Yes, using in house printers for your over printing on your labels or use a POLYtij machine to print direct onto the product.

 Take out the ink cartridge if not in use for 3 days or more and don’t store it in low or high temperatures (has to be 5-30 degrees).

The cap-off time is also unrivalled with the illumex® range, with a 3 day cap off time, so you don’t need to be consistently re-capping your ink if you’re not running for a day.

Although the official name of the type of product is a Thermal Inkjet Printer, many people do refer to them as a date and time stamping machine. 

Thermal inkjet printers require very little routine maintenance compared with many traditional continuous inkjet systems.

There are no ink pumps, filters or circulating ink systems to service. The printhead is built into the replaceable cartridge, so changing the cartridge also replaces the part of the system responsible for producing the print.

Normal operator care may include correctly storing cartridges, replacing empty cartridges, keeping the printer and sensor clean, wiping the cartridge face when required and capping or removing cartridges during extended shutdown periods. This simple design can reduce downtime, servicing requirements and ongoing maintenance costs.

Thermal inkjet inks are available with rapid drying characteristics, making them suitable for fast-moving production lines.

Drying time will depend on the selected ink, the product material, whether the surface is porous or non-porous, ambient temperature, humidity, print density and production-line speed.

Some inks can become touch-dry in approximately one second under suitable conditions. However, the exact performance should always be confirmed by testing the customer’s actual product.

Atwell can conduct print trials to identify the most suitable ink for the required material and production environment.

Thermal inkjet cartridges are available in a range of colours, depending on the required ink formulation and application.

Options may include black, white, blue, red, green, yellow, invisible ultraviolet-readable inks and specialist high-contrast inks.

Different colours and formulations are available for different surfaces, environments and regulatory requirements.

Changing colour is normally a straightforward process because the ink is contained within the replaceable cartridge. The existing cartridge can be removed and replaced with a compatible cartridge in the required colour, reducing the cleaning and flushing associated with some traditional coding systems.

Availability should be confirmed against the specific printer model, substrate and application requirements.

Yes. A thermal inkjet printer can normally be integrated into an existing conveyor, packaging line or label applicator.

The printer can be configured to print directly onto products, bottles, containers, cartons, trays, flexible packaging or labels before or after application.

Atwell can also integrate a thermal inkjet printer into a new or existing Atwell labelling system.

A typical installation may include the printer, mounting brackets, product sensor, encoder, controls and software. The exact arrangement will depend on the product, print position, conveyor speed and available space.

A site survey or product trial may be recommended before the final system is specified.

Thermal inkjet cartridges are designed to be changed quickly and without specialist tools.

The operator can remove the existing cartridge and install a replacement cartridge containing the required ink type or colour. This helps minimise production downtime and avoids the lengthy cleaning, draining or flushing processes that may be required with bulk-ink systems.

Before changing ink types or colours, the operator should confirm that the replacement cartridge is compatible with the printer, product material and production application.

Stored cartridges should be correctly capped and kept within the manufacturer’s recommended temperature range to maintain print quality and cartridge life.

The best coding and marking printer will depend on the product, packaging material, production speed, required print information and operating environment.

Thermal inkjet can be a strong option for businesses requiring high-resolution batch and date codes, clear barcodes and QR codes, low routine maintenance, simple cartridge changes, compact production-line integration, rapid start-up and shutdown, a choice of ink colours and formulations and direct printing onto products, packaging or labels.

For food, chemical, pharmaceutical and regulated manufacturing applications, the selected ink must also be assessed against the relevant compliance, traceability and packaging requirements.

Atwell will review the product material, print size, required code, line speed and environmental conditions before recommending a system. Product trials can also be completed to confirm print quality, adhesion, drying performance and resistance.

Every coding and marking application is different. Atwell Labellers can review your products, packaging materials, production speeds and required print information to recommend the most suitable thermal inkjet printer and ink.

Our team can also arrange product testing and print trials before a final system is selected.