04 Jan TIJ vs. CIJ
hat is Continuous Inkjet Printing (CIJ)?
CIJ is the technology of choice for small character high-speed printing. Like Squid Ink’s JetStream Sonic, CIJ printing systems are used for small character printing and are typically used in primary package and high-speed product marking applications. The JetStream Sonic can print up to five lines of text up to 1,200 feet per minute. Two other reasons that CIJ is a preferred method over others are its long throw distance and ability to use MEK-based inks that allow for immediate drying. Next time you are in a grocery store, take a closer look at the products on the shelves. Many of these small character codes are on items you would see daily, such as date codes printed on the bottom of cans, expiration dates on a milk jug, and many other products.
What is Thermal Inkjet Printing (TIJ)?
Thermal inkjet printers utilize replaceable cartridge printheads to print codes on both porous and non-porous substrates. The cartridge contains multiple ink nozzles, with each containing a heating element. The coil heating element is charged with a current in the ink chamber above the nozzle, and when a current of heat is passed through the ink chamber, an ink droplet is ejected. This increase in pressure allows for an ink droplet to go through the nozzle and onto the substrate. TIJ nozzles are microscopic, and resolutions up to 600 dpi are standard.