Today, a wide array of industries use continuous ink jet technology because of its versatility and ability to mark the majority of substrates, and its affordable price when compared with more complex technologies. How do continuous inkjet printers work? Here is a quick guide.

A continuous stream of ink is created when the CIJ printer pushes ink in its liquid form through a gun body and microscopic nozzle using a high pressure pump. Because the process is non-contact, products or packaging are not susceptible to potential damage. Continuous inkjet printers are ideal for high-speed printing applications, important to most manufacturers today.

Many industries who print bar codes, expiration dates, and other data prefer small character CIJ printers because of their precision and ability to print clearly on a variety of substrates including flat surfaces, textured surfaces, and curved surfaces. Continuous ink jet printers provide clear, indelible printing that is easily readable or in the case of barcodes, easily scanned.

The majority of CIJ printers can be used in nearly any printing environment, including those that are humid or dusty. In addition, CIJ printing technology is ideal for manufacturers who print only occasionally, or 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Continuous ink jet printers can also be fitted with various types of inks depending on the manufacturer’s needs, including inks that are solvent-based and contain alcohol or ketones for quick drying.

If you are interested in learning more about continuous ink jet printing, give REA JET a call today. We provide a wide array of industrial coding and marking solutions across many industries including food/beverage, pharmaceutical, cable/wire, packaging, steel/metal, plastics, and more.