Why Does Your Business Need Industrial Inkjet Printers?

Clear and reliable product coding is essential for traceability, compliance, and efficient production. Industrial inkjet printers provide a non-contact way to print dates, batch numbers, barcodes, and variable information directly onto products and packaging without interrupting workflow.

This article covers the main types of industrial inkjet printers, compares them with laser and thermal transfer solutions, explains their business value and application scenarios, and introduces leading brands along with recommended Bentsai models to help you choose the right solution.

 

What is an Industrial Inkjet Printer?

An industrial inkjet printer is a high-performance printing device designed for continuous, non-contact marking and coding on industrial production lines. It is used to print variable information such as date codes, batch numbers, barcodes, and logos directly onto products or packaging materials in real time. Its main purpose is to support product identification, traceability, quality control, and regulatory compliance in manufacturing and logistics environments.

 

Common Types of Industrial Inkjet Printers

1. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ):
   CIJ printers spray a continuous stream of ink droplets, some of which are charged and deflected to form characters. They are ideal for high-speed production lines and can print on almost any surface, including curved or uneven materials.
2. Thermal Inkjet (TIJ):
   TIJ printers use heat to eject tiny ink droplets through microscopic nozzles. They are compact, low-maintenance, and widely used for handheld and desktop coding systems. They are best suited for high-resolution printing on packaging like cartons, labels, plastics, and metals.
3. Piezo Inkjet (PIJ):
   PIJ printers use piezoelectric crystals to push ink through the printhead without heating it. This allows them to handle a wider range of inks, including UV and solvent inks, making them suitable for specialty printing and high-durability industrial applications.

 

Industrial Inkjet Printers vs. Other Industrial Printers

When it comes to coding and marking in industrial applications, there are several printing solutions. Each solution has their unique strengths. We will compare industrial inkjet printers with industrial laser coders and thermal transfer printers below.

 

Industrial Inkjet Printers vs. Industrial Laser Coders

Comparison Aspect	Industrial Inkjet Printers	Industrial Laser Coders
Contact Type	Non-contact printing: ink droplets are projected onto substrates without physical contact	Non-contact marking: uses laser beams to alter or engrave the surface
Substrates	Suitable for porous and non-porous materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Curved or uneven items are supported.	Works best on materials that react to laser energy such as plastic, glass, metal, or coated packaging.
Speed	High-speed printing suitable for production lines and variable data coding.	Extremely fast marking, especially for simple text and codes. Can be slower on complex designs.
Marking Type	Applies ink on the surface to create visible codes and pictures	Alters or engraves the surface of the material for permanent markings
Color Capability	Print monochrome color, but supports multiple ink colors	Typically monochrome, depending on contrast with substrate
Cost	Lower initial machine investment but ongoing ink/consumables cost	Higher upfront cost but lower long-term consumable cost

 

Industrial Inkjet Printers vs. Thermal Transfer Printers

Comparison Aspect	Industrial Inkjet Printers	Thermal Transfer Printers
Printing Method	Non-contact printing by spraying ink droplets onto surfaces	Contact printing using heat to transfer ink from ribbon onto labels or substrates
Substrates	Can print directly onto various materials like plastic, glass, metal, paper, cartons, and film without labels	Requires label materials or specific substrates suitable for thermal transfer
Speed	High-speed, suitable for real-time variable data printing	Generally slower due to mechanical movement and label feed
Marking Type	Prints directly on products or packaging	Prints on labels that are applied later
Color Capability	Print monochrome color, but supports multiple ink colors	Mostly single-color
Cost	Lower initial cost, ongoing ink costs	Higher consumable costs

 

Business Benefits of Using Industrial Inkjet Printers

Industrial inkjet printers offer many advantages for businesses. Key benefits include:

1. Fast Printing: Marks products quickly, saving time on production lines.
2. Cost Savings: Reduces the need for labels, ribbons, and extra materials.
3. Versatility: Prints on many surfaces such as metal, plastic, glass, wood, and cardboard.
4. High Accuracy: Produces clear text, pictures, variable QR codes, barcodes, batch numbers, SKUs, real-time date with minimal errors.
5. Flexibility: Can handle different batch sizes and product types.
6. Easy Integration: Works well with existing production lines and automation systems.
7. Improved Traceability: Supports batch codes, serial numbers, and real-time data tracking.
8. Reduced Labor: One operator can manage printing directly on the spot.
9. Environmentally Friendly: Less waste compared to label-based systems.

 

Who Needs Industrial Inkjet Printers?

Industrial inkjet printers are useful for many businesses. Key users include:

1. Manufacturing Companies: For marking parts, tools, and products on production lines.
2. Food and Beverage Industry: For printing expiration dates, batch codes, and labels.
3. Pharmaceuticals: For serial numbers, lot codes, and traceability on packaging.
4. Logistics and Warehousing: For barcodes, QR codes, and pallet labeling.
5. Electronics Industry: For marking components, PCBs, and cables.
6. Construction and Building Materials: For labeling pipes, tiles, and other materials.
7. Field Services and Maintenance: For marking repaired or newly installed equipment.
8. Printing and Packaging Companies: For fast, on-demand, and custom printing tasks.

 

Mainstream Industrial Inkjet Printer Brands

Several brands lead the industrial inkjet printer market. Key brands include:

1. Videojet: Known for reliable printing on a wide range of materials and fast production lines.
2. Domino Printing: Offers flexible solutions for coding, marking, and labeling needs.
3. EBS: Specializes in high-precision, durable marks for industrial applications.
4. Linx Global: Provides user-friendly printers suitable for small and large-scale production.

 

What does Bentsai recommend?

Bentsai handheld inkjet printers are also suitable for industrial inkjet printing. They have several highly-recommended models, and we will pick some top ones today:

Bentsai BT-HH6105F Handheld Inkjet Printer Gun

The BT-HH6105F is Bentsai's most portable and versatile handheld model, designed for high-frequency, small-character print tasks.

Key Features:

1. Print Height: 2.5 mm - 12.7 mm
2. Extremely lightweight and portable at only 450g
3. Print Speed: Up to 60 meters per minute
4. Materials: Supports porous and non-porous materials (paper, plastic, metal, glass, etc.)
5. Handles production dates, batch & lot numbers, serial codes, QR codes, barcodes, and logo
6. Supports USB data transfer and variable data printing

Best For: Small to medium production lines; ideal for printing small-character production dates, batch numbers, serial codes, and barcodes

 

Bentsai B45 Dual Head Wide Format Inkjet Printer (46mm Height)

The B45 uses Bentsai's patented dual-head stitching technology to achieve larger print heights beyond traditional handheld limitations.

Key Features:

1. Print height: Max print height is up to 46mm (2 inch)
2. Dual printhead seamless stitching
3. 5-inch HD touchscreen with user-friendly interface
4. 300 DPI resolution for clear, sharp text and graphics
5. Compatible with waterproof and fast-drying industrial ink

Best For: Carton boxes, sacks, wooden boards, packaging cartons, and warehouse outer packaging where larger, easily readable markings are required.

 

BENTSAI B85 Wide Format Large Character Inkjet Printer (92mm Height)

The B85 is designed for scenarios requiring extra-large and high-visibility text, especially in outdoor or industrial environments.

Key Features:

1. Maximum print height: Up to 92mm (4 inch)
2. Advanced patented stitching technology
3. Industrial-grade, waterproof and wear-resistant ink
4. Designed for rough and uneven surfaces
5. Strong visibility even from long distances

Best For: Large-scale industrial applications and outdoor cables, construction materials, steel pipes, concrete surfaces, infrastructure signage, and heavy-duty industrial marking where large, clear, and durable identification is essential.

 

Summary

Industrial inkjet printers are important for modern factories and production lines. They print fast, clear, and directly on products. Unlike other printers, they do not touch the surface, work on many materials, and handle variable data easily. Businesses save money, reduce labor, and track products better. Manufacturing, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, logistics, electronics, and construction all benefit.

In addition to top brands like Videojet, Domino, EBS, and Linx offering reliable printers, Bentsai's inkjet printers are also suitable for industrial inkjet printing, with models 6105F, B45, and B85 fitting different production needs. Overall, industrial inkjet printers make work faster, improve product labeling, and keep quality high.