How to Choose the Right Inkjet Printer for Your Product?

09 Oct,2025

Choosing the right inkjet printer requires comprehensive consideration of multiple factors. Below are the key points:

1. Clarify Your Coding Requirements

Coding Content

For printing simple characters such as production dates and batch numbers with a height of 3-5mm, a 300DPI inkjet printer is sufficient.
If you need to print small characters (＜2mm), QR codes, traceability codes (e.g., 0.5mm serial numbers on PCB circuit boards), a 600DPI model is required.

Product Material

Different packaging materials have different requirements for ink:

For plastic packaging (PE/PP/PET), solvent-based ink or UV-curable ink should be selected.
For food-contact packaging, edible ink or food-grade UV ink must be used, and the ink should hold the GB 4806.8 certification.
For high-temperature scenarios (e.g., 121℃ can sterilization lines), high-temperature curing ink is needed; for low-temperature scenarios (e.g., cold-chain food at -20℃), low-temperature resistant ink is required.

Production Line Speed

For production lines counted by "individual products" (e.g., bottle filling lines in food and beverage factories), the speed of the inkjet printer should be 10%-20% faster than the actual speed of the production line.
For production lines operating with "continuous rolls" (e.g., express bag roll production lines), the linear speed of the inkjet printer must be ≥ the linear speed of the roll line.

2. Consider the Type of Inkjet Printer

Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) Printer

It uses pressure to form a continuous ink stream, which is broken into ink droplets by high-frequency vibration and then deflected by electric charge.

Advantages: Suitable for high-speed production lines; can print on various material surfaces; high speed (up to 1000 meters per minute); non-contact printing; low maintenance cost.
Disadvantages: High ink consumption; relatively low resolution.

Drop-on-Demand (DOD) Printer

It generates ink droplets on demand, mainly using two technologies: thermal bubble and piezoelectric.

Advantages: Suitable for high-precision marking needs (e.g., electronic components, pharmaceutical packaging); high resolution; high ink utilization rate; capable of printing complex graphics.
Disadvantages: Relatively slow speed; slightly poor adaptability to different materials.

Laser Marking Machine

It marks the surface of objects through a laser beam.

Advantages: Suitable for hard materials (e.g., metal, plastic) that require permanent marking; no consumables; permanent marks; environmentally friendly.
Disadvantages: High initial investment; may cause discoloration (instead of etching) on some materials.

3. Pay Attention to Performance Parameters

Printing Height

The printing height of standard models generally ranges from 1.2mm to 15mm.
Large-character inkjet printers can achieve a printing height of over 50mm.
The selection should be based on product requirements.

Communication and Integration Capabilities

Consider whether the inkjet printer has industrial interfaces such as RS232, Ethernet, and USB, and whether it supports PLC connection and database docking to ensure smooth integration into the existing production system.

4. Evaluate Operating Costs

Ink/Solvent Consumption

Different inkjet printers have different ink consumption rates. Calculate the number of characters that can be printed per milliliter of ink.
Understand the solvent addition ratio and frequency.
Evaluate the cost difference between dedicated ink and general-purpose ink.

Maintenance Costs

Including the cost of regularly replaced parts (e.g., filters, pumps), professional maintenance service fees, and downtime costs.

5. Inspect After-Sales Service

Choose suppliers with a sound after-sales service system, professional maintenance teams, and rapid response mechanisms. Before selecting a model:

Understand the supplier’s after-sales service level by consulting other users, reviewing industry reports, or conducting on-site inspections.
Additionally, pay attention to whether the supplier provides value-added services such as technical training and remote fault diagnosis.

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