If you visit our Marking and Coding Solutions page, you’ll be presented with a wide range of options, including DOD inkjet printers, High-Resolution printers, industrial stencil machines, and more. If you’re a new small business owner, it might be challenging to determine which solution will provide the best product identification at an affordable price point. Here is a quick guide to help narrow things down.
DOD Inkjet Printers
“DOD” stands for “Drop on Demand technology.” This is a printing method in which ink droplets are ejected onto paper or another substrate. The last time you drank a bottle of soda or carton of orange juice, you may have noticed the tiny “dots” making up the best-by date near the lid.
DOD Inkjet Printers are popular because they are very ink-efficient. The ink droplets are ejected only when a specific dot needs to be printed, rather than continuously emitting a stream of ink, as is the case with CIJ methods. For this reason, DOD inkjet printers are often used on lines where the print speed is slower, but the amount of information is higher. They are most frequently used on secondary packaging, like boxes and mailing bags.
Small Character Inkjet Printers
A small character printer is a type of DOD inkjet printer used to print information in small sizes. They are sometimes referred to as “small character continuous inkjet printers” as well.
Small character printers can be used to print a wide range of information. They are often used to print things like best before dates, batch codes, logos, shift codes, manufactured dates, barcodes, or time codes. They are extremely versatile, and can print information onto electronic components, cables, or pharmaceutical packages. Some advantages of small character inkjet printers include:
- Efficiency. They can print information at high speed, something that is absolutely necessary with large production lines, where thousands of products need to be marked in a matter of minutes.
- Versatility. As noted above, they can print a wide variety of information in very small sizes, on a wide range of products. They can also print on multiple surfaces, including plastic, metal or glass.
- Clear results. Even though they are not “high-res” printers, small character printers almost always guarantee a high-resolution printing.
Large Character Inkjet Printers
As the name implies, large character inkjet printers are designed for printing large characters, typically ranging from 7mm to 140mm in height. These machines are used for printing logos, product identification, and other information on corrugated boxes, sacks, and other packaging materials.
Some advantages of large character inkjet printers include:
- Versatility. Like their smaller counterparts, these machines can print a wide range of inks on a wide range of materials and substrates.
- Ease of use. Large character inkjet printers are very easy to program and require little maintenance.
- Cost-effectiveness. Since they print characters directly on the product, labels become unnecessary.
High-Resolution Inkjet Printers
High-resolution inkjet printers are capable of creating highly accurate and finely detailed printed outputs. The measurement unit for resolution is Dots Per Inch (DPI), which, as the term suggests, denotes the number of individual ink dots a printer can produce within a linear inch. The higher the DPI, the more densely packed these dots are, which translates to a sharper, clearer image.
A standard, everyday high-resolution printer will usually start at 300 DPI. This is considered a sufficient level of detail for most everyday printing tasks. However, for professional-grade printing where the ultimate level of detail is required, companies will use printers that can reach up to 4800 DPI or more.
The key advantage of these printers is their ability to deliver unmatched print quality. Whether you are printing product catalogs, posters, or photographs, a high-resolution inkjet printer ensures that every detail is accurately captured. Some additional advantages of High-Resolution printers include:
- Versatility. These printers can handle various paper sizes, weights, and finishes, and can typically print anything from business cards to large banners. They can also print on specialty media such as textured paper, envelopes, and even fabric.
- Cost-effectiveness. Though high-resolution inkjet printers do require a high upfront investment, they are often very cost-effective in the long term. They are also less costly than other printing technologies, such as laser printers, both upfront and in terms of ink consumption.
- Efficiency. High-resolution cij inkjet printers require minimal warm-up time, ensuring that you can start printing without delays. Additionally, many inkjet printers offer automatic duplex printing capabilities, enabling you to print on both sides of the paper simultaneously, further saving time and reducing paper waste.
Manual Stencil Makers
If you want an “old school” marking and coding solution that is still surprisingly efficient, you might be interested in purchasing a manual stencil maker. These machines allow you to cut characters of a single size onto a piece of oil board. They are available in character heights of 12mm, 19mm, or 25mm. Operating a manual machine involves selecting the character on a wheel. Then, you will use a handle to manually “punch” into the stencil material. Then, you or your employees will simply roll some ink onto the stencil, just as business owners have done for decades. The following phrase comes to mind: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Manual stencil machines are very cost-effective, and they can be used in places that have no electricity. They require no special training, and have no risk of computer errors. However, they are best used for smaller volume requirements and simple designs. As your business scales, you will probably want to “move up” to automated printing options.
Which printing option should I choose?
Still uncertain about the ideal printing choice for your project? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our knowledgeable team at SSI Packaging. Our experts can help provide personalized guidance on the best printing solution for your operation and budget. SSI Packaging Stands behind every printing and labeling solution we provide, and offer 24/7 technical support to keep you running.