Thermal inkjet printer cuts downtime on packaging lines - company
The MR 296 TI thermal inkjet system will be unveiled at the Interpack trade show, in Dusseldorf, Germany in May, said the company.
The system, suitable for use in multi-lane packaging systems, prints directly onto the packaging web. The printer produces “an exact image” without the need to print first onto labels, claimed Multivac.
Equipped with a drive unit with a Wolke m600 printing system, the MR296 TI is able to deliver "perfect coding" on both paper and a spun fibre fabric material known as Tyvek up to a resolution of 600dpi (dots per inch).
Benefits
The firm highlighted some of the benefits of HP thermal inkjet (TIJ) technology as minimal set-up times, low maintenance and long service intervals thanks to such characteristics as quick cartridge change capability and the fact the printing heads are sealed in the automatic parking position.
“This prevents the ink from inadvertently drying out,” said a company statement. “The cleaning function also ensures that the printing head secretes a few drops of ink in a selected position, shortly before the actual printing. This improves the press proofing after a printing interval.”
The system uses water-based environmentally-friendly inks – eliminating the need for solvents.
The printer can be fully integrated into the company’s thermopackaging machine, meaning the operator can control it directly from the packaging system’s terminal. Printer status messages are also displayed there, added Multivac.
Horizontal or vertical printing
The company will also be showcasing its MR293 TT printer at Interpack- another direct web system that enables printing to be done in multi-lanes and multi-rows. This is designed for use in the upper web intake area and is positioned before the sealing station in the thermoforming packaging machine. It can also be used for hot stamping.
Depending on the model, multi-lane and multi-row formats can be accommodated – with printing possible vertically or horizontally.
“Our customers can choose a printing system from any of the major manufacturers,” said Volker Gerloff, marking and inspection managing director for the company. “This means maximum flexibility is provided for the layout of the device.”
The firm’s direct web printing systems correspond to IP protection class IP65/NEMA-4 – relating to the ingress of dust and liquids respectively.
Multivac Marking & Inspection manufactures labelling and coding systems. The company, previously named MR Etikettiertechnik, was founded in 1972 in Germany and has been part of the parent company since 1993.
