Improving Efficiencies with CIJ

Continuous Inkjet Printers (CIJ) offer a range of benefits to production lines, benefits that can be felt throughout the supply chain with higher print quality and legibility. With multiple printing technologies available within the market, we want to explore how CIJ technology can be utilised specifically within production lines to achieve efficiencies and improve profitability. We’ll look at various aspects of line efficiency, from change over times to alert diagnostics that help operators identify and fix faults quickly. 

Time Saving Change Overs

Set up and change over times between jobs has traditionally been a key consideration when choosing printing technology, especially for production lines where requirements (such as packaging) can often change quickly. Clearly any increase in change over times can have a direct impact on the overall output of each line!

CIJ printers have a number of advantages over other technologies in relation to set up and change over times. Whilst other printing technologies such as thermal inkjets may be arguably more portable than CIJ, that doesn’t mean that CIJ printers are not highly portable in themselves. More importantly, CIJ technology does not need to be in contact with the substrate. In addition, the distance of the printer head from the substrate is relatively flexible, requiring less stringent accuracy during set up or change over and therefore reducing required set up time.

CIJ printers also have advanced message creation and memory, delivering further efficiencies. For example, the option of one touch sequential number reset either from the printer screen or an external trigger. Another such example would be the automatic time adjustment for daylight savings or the ability to print a sequence of messages automatically, with different triggering and repeat print options. All this information can be stored using internal memory (up to 1000 messages) and supplemented via USB storage devices.

Real Time Production Rates

Data is critical in providing line managers with the information necessary to make important decisions, for example the coordination of a new job. CIJ printers offer real-time production rates with output and line stoppage logs. This provides up to date and accurate information, enabling managers to accurately understand when a new job can be started.

Automatic Acclimatising

Production lines can have large variations in climate and environment, depending on the location and industry. Clearly, temperature, humidity and factors such as dust can change depending on the site’s location and the time of the year, though the environment can also be dependent on the production line type. For example, an automotive parts production line could have a drastically different environment to one within the food industry. 

Our CIJ printers are capable of automatically acclimatising to changing environments and seasons, ensuring high quality printing and coding by reducing environment related issues or configuration.

Adaptability

In a digitally led world, businesses are needing to adapt to market conditions and demands as quickly as possible. Furthermore, in the case of packaging, multiple types (primary & secondary) require further versatility in terms of the printing technology. Businesses are demanding printers that can be quickly configured to different types of packaging with limited downtime. You guessed it….CIJ delivers exactly that, with the ability to print on both primary and secondary packaging. 

Alert Diagnostics

CIJ Printers are not stand alone entities, for example, Linx’s CIJ printers are connected to your Printernet system providing features such as remote access to your printers. In terms of efficiency, Printernet proactively notifies operators of faults on lines. The system subsequently allows and supports faster fault resolution with remote diagnostics and onscreen help. As a result, CIJ printing technology reduces downtime through these types of alert diagnostics.

Problem Solving Technology

Uptime is critical in creating the most efficient production line environment possible. Businesses need to be able to problem solve internally without reliance on engineering teams that may not be on site. CIJ technology delivers quick, engineer-free servicing in around 30 minutes. In addition, due to CIJ’s inherent reliability, printers can run up to 2 years without a service.

As we can see, there are multiple advantages to continuous inkjet technology with regards to improving efficiencies for businesses. There are additional advantages such as reduction in wastage due to CIJ technology, though we have focussed here on operational specific issues. At Linx we work with you to assess your requirements, from versatility in terms of substrate and printing or coding requirements to the types of inks that are specific to your needs. Get in touch today to book a free site survey or speak to one of our experts.