First introduced to the market in the early 1950s, continuous inkjet or “CIJ” printers remain one of the manufacturing industry’s most preferred industrial marking options. Their remarkable capabilities make them perfect solutions for items like cosmetics, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and automotive components, all of which present uniquely demanding coding and marking challenges. If you're considering CIJ printing for your industrial coding needs, you are probably curious about the advantages offered by this marking and coding solution. Below are just a few.
 
Versatility
 
One of the greatest benefits of CIJ printers is that they can be used to mark or code almost any material, at almost any speed or orientation. These printers can print date codes, lot codes, batch codes, logos, and more onto substrates like metal, glass, wood, plastic, and paper. Curved surfaces, textured surfaces, and porous surfaces pose little to no challenge to CIJ printers, due to the contact-free technology they use, which we will discuss in greater detail below. Lastly, not only can these printers print on virtually any surface, they can also use a wide variety of inks, giving product designers even more range for creativity.
 
Reliability  
 
In order to mark or code a product, a CIJ printer uses a high-pressure pump to direct liquid ink through a nozzle, creating a rapid, continuous stream of ink droplets. Since the printer’s nozzle never comes into contact with the substrate material, manufacturers who use CIJ printers can usually rely on concise, clear markings, even on objects that are oddly-shaped, flexible, or uneven. Smudges, misprints, and damage are essentially impossible, resulting in less wasted material and less time loss due to reprinting.   
 
Speed of printing
 
The high frequency of CIJ ink ejection is able to mark and code substrates at faster rates than many other printers can achieve. For example, the average CIJ printer can apply codes to products moving at 1,000 feet per minute, while thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers are generally limited to around 300 feet per minute. And while some TIJ printers are able to print at comparable speeds to CIJ printers, they are not suited to the 24/7 continuous operation that CIJ printers are designed for. CIJ printers are fast and resilient to the demands of a continuous production line.
 
Fast-drying ink
 
The ink ejection is not the only thing that is fast about the CIJ printing process. The ink that is used is also quick to dry, once again decreasing the chances of smudges or misprints. Since the ink jet is constantly in use, the nozzle does not clog, therefore allowing solvents such as ketones and alcohols to be employed. These solvents are able to "bite" into the substrate and dry quickly, unlike other ink types.
 
Cost efficiency
 
All of the benefits we have discussed above (versatility, reliability, speed) save the user both time and money. In addition to these, there are other ways in which CIJ printers decrease operating costs, too. Firstly, compared to other technologies, CIJ printers can run for many hours before requiring service. They are typically very durable, resistant to high production temperatures, dust and humidity, all of which have traditionally been problematic for other types of printers.
 
Maintaining the printer is also very simple, and can be performed by the average layperson. Repair is usually simple, too. Since CIJ printers have very few moving parts, most issues are easy to identify and fix, like clogged filters or blocked ink flows. Even better, using high-quality ink and performing simple routine maintenance will prevent all of these issues from occurring at all.
 
Which continuous inkjet printer should I choose? 

Continuous inkjet printers are incredibly versatile, efficient machines that can deliver uninterrupted, rapid coding day after day. Whether you’re working with glass bottles, flexible food packaging, or metal pipes, the high-speed printing capabilities of a CIJ printer can maximize your operation’s uptime and coding accuracy.
 
With so many CIJ models and ink formulations on the market, it can be difficult to determine which printer will work best for your needs. If you’re facing this dilemma, the expert team here at SSI Packaging can help. One model which we always like to recommend to our customers is the Leibinger Jet One printer. We have found this model to be very reliable compared to similarly-priced alternatives.
 
If you would like to learn more about the Leibinger Jet One, or investigate another type of printer, please don’t hesitate to give us a call. Over decades of experience in the industrial marking and coding market, our experts have gained a detailed understanding of the printing challenges facing various industries, and are happy to direct you to the best solution for your particular needs.
 
To obtain a continuous inkjet printing system that works for you, contact us today, tell us about your operation, and let us find the perfect match for you!

With the U.S. now vaccinating an astonishing 2 million people per day, the end of the pandemic is drawing closer than ever. Even once it’s over, though, there are some parts of our world that will have changed forever. More people have now become accustomed to digital buying than ever before—and manufacturers will continue to see high demand for affordable, quick-to-ship products. If your plant is starting to reckon with this new reality, here are a few strategies to help maximize production in a post-Covid world, and avoid any shutdowns in the future.  
 
Identify potential bottlenecks 
 
The first step in fixing the kinks in your supply chain is identifying them. Usually, the biggest sources for risk will be the outside facilities, contractors, or sub-contractors that you depend on to produce your product. This is especially true for products that require a specialized skillset to assemble, or contain difficult-to-source components. In order to keep everything running smoothly, take a moment—or several moments—to identify exactly who you rely on, all the way down to the smallest sub-contractor. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to consider the strategies we’ll discuss below.  
 
Bring parts of your supply chain in-house

Since every step in your production process is a potential point of risk, the most obvious way to reduce that risk is to bring as many processes in-house as possible. Before you reject this idea as financially unfeasible, consider that new technological advances, especially in the field of automation, can often make domestic production much more affordable than was in years prior. Robotic palletizers, for example, can greatly reduce the labor involved in preparing pallets for shipping, and in-house labeling and coding machines can eliminate another step in production. Not only do these solutions increase efficiency, they are also attractive to manufacturers post-pandemic because they reduce the need for human contact, and therefore the spread of germs.
 
On the subject of humans, we would be remiss to move on without acknowledging the concerns that have been raised about automation over the years. While automation does stand to eliminate the need for certain tasks that are currently performed manually, we would argue that many of these jobs are extremely tedious and often hazardous. Like any other innovation in the past century, automation stands to change the way we work, not eliminate it.
 
Diversify your supply chain 

If it’s just not possible for you to bring every aspect of your production in-house, your next best option is to diversify your list of suppliers. If you can spread out your supply chain among multiple factories or regions, you will be able to source components and/or labor from sources that are not all vulnerable to the same risks.
Many economists have advocated for a “near-sourcing” model, wherein manufacturers would source materials and labor close to the market in which the product will be consumed. In North America, this would primarily mean reallocating plants from China to locations in Mexico and Central America, a move with both positives and negatives.
 
Others have argued for a distribution model that is more globalized, not less, in order to avoid any risk that would threaten a particular location. For instance, when the 2004 tsunami occurred, many companies that had relocated plants from China to Vietnam and Malaysia found that that diversification was not enough to eliminate stalls in production that affected the entire region.   
 
Build a stockpile of key components  
 
The Coronavirus certainly gave us all a lesson in the importance of saving for an emergency—whether with a bank account or a physical stockpile of inventory. Now, you can put that lesson into practice by considering a “safety stock” that would mitigate the effects of a future crisis.
 
As you set about building your stockpile, consider which components are the most valuable, and which points along the supply chain are the most high-risk for disruption. Since this type of “safety stock” ties up assets, and runs counter to decades-long practices of keeping inventories lean, you might not want to put aside too much product, especially if you produce for the tech sector. However, as we have just witnessed over the past year, having no backup plan whatsoever poses a big risk to your profitability, too. The only solution is to sit down with your firm’s key stakeholders and assess the potential costs of a hypothetical disruption, versus the costs of setting aside some emergency resources.
 
Overcoming Packaging, Marking and Coding Challenges in 2021 
 
The Covid-19 pandemic has been a long, difficult struggle for all of is. But while it can be tempting to write off this year as a loss, it can also be viewed through the metaphorical lens of a forest wildfire: initially devastating, but ultimately an opportunity for growth and rebirth. The concerns raised in this article existed long before the pandemic. Now, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to “grow back” cleaner and greener than ever.  
 
SSI Packaging supplies industrial packaging, marking, and coding equipment for our clients across the East Coast. From commercial inkjet printers and labelers to everyday packing tape, we offer everything you need to move your products safely, affordably and efficiently. If you would like to place an order or learn more about our services, please feel free to give us a call.

As we all do our best to stay home and continue with life the best we can amidst COVID-19, some folks find ourselves snacking more than ever.  Maybe it's nerves, or maybe you're like millions of others who are working from home.  Whatever the reason, we are snacking more and also finding learning new things.  For example, did you know there are many types of "date codes" on foods?  Here is a short explanation of the various types of date codes and what they mean for you.

"Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.

"Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

"Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product.

"Closed or coded dates" are packing numbers for use by the manufacturer.
If you are a manufacture of food products, healthcare products, or paper goods (these days think toilet paper, right?), then let us help you solve the problem of accurate date coding for your production.  SSI Packaging Group has been in the date coding business for decades and we are ready to listen to your needs and find the right solution. 

Do you need cate coding equipment on a short-term basis?  We rent coding equipment so that you can focus on fulfilling orders and we'll worry about the equipment.

Call one of marking and coding experts now to help you get production done on time and accurate the first time.  804.649.1111

An inc.jet .UNO print solution can help  you to replace your troublesome CIJ
Printer and here’s why...

By using self-contained HP cartagrages, there is no messy cleanup.  The high-capacity ink cartridges are long lasting and when they run out, simply pull out the empty one and drop in the new one.

Forget the days of fumes and chemical smells from inkjet systems.  Because .uno uses a closed packaging system, the ink is delivered on demand only. There are no solvents,  spills, or makeup.  The result is a no-smell inkjet system that is super reliable.

With it’s simple design comes a great by-product…higher reliability. Get on your business and forget about working if your coding and marking system is working correctly.  .uno just works.

Since there are less parts, nothing to maintain, and limits downtime to a few moments the operating cost for .uno systems are a fraction of traditional CIJ systems.

The easy to navigate interface will get you the results you want without having to worry about spending hours programming.  Enter your required fields and print.

Space is a huge consideration when considering marking and coding systems.  Production lines have limited space for bulky inkjet systems.  .uno systems need an extremely small footprint for the printhead and interface, preventing the need to redesign an entire production line.

A guarantee of reliability is what your business needs today. And a company to stand behind its words. inc.jet does just this by offering a genuine Lifetime Warranty on its hardware. If there is ever a problem, we will replace it free of charges for the lifetime of that product, whether 1 year or 20 years from now

To take advantage of this limited-time offer, call one of the experts at SSI today.  Our goal is to make sure you have the best solution for your particular setting.  SSI Packaging Group stands behind our products and our work.  We only install marking and coding solutions that we trust based on our long-time experience in the market.   Call us today at 804.649.1111

There’s nothing like a cold craft beer!  It’s estimated that craft beers sales are growing at 15-20 percent annually.  In 2015 craft beer sales exceeded $22.3 billion.  With all of this growth and competition how does a micro-brewer stand apart from the crowd?  Sure, you can have a great brew, cool labeling, and a hot social media campaign, but being sure your brews are served fresh will keep customers and local taprooms coming back for more.  Clearly displaying accurate date coding on your bottles will let everyone know you take brewing seriously.  

The Brewers Association recommends that date lot code be clearly coded to aid with marketing freshness, but more importantly traceability for brewers, distributors, importers, and consumers.  According to the Bioterrorism Act, brewers are required to insure traceability of their beer. Brewers must keep internal records of the specific ingredients, including manufacture lot numbers that were used in individual batches.

Having clearly labeled lot coding benefits the producers, distributors, and the consumers.  The most vital role in lot coding is in the unfortunately event of a quality of safety recall.  While brewers to there best to prevent recalls, it is essential to be prepared for them.  Empowering retailers and distribution chains to utilize a first-in first-out strategy will ensure that stock stays fresh
Allowing consumers to understand the shelf life of beer educates the public about the industry, but more importantly about how brewers value freshness and transparency.

According the Brewers Association, there are several best practices for coding craft beer*:
    •    Standard or Gregorian Date package date coding
    •     “Best by” dating
    •     Julian date coding
    •     Unique company specific date coding

SSI packaging group are date and lot coding specialists.  We have coding solutions for the smallest of brewers in the country to the largest.  For bottle and can lot coding our Jet2NEO continuous inkjet printer by Leibinger, and our .UNO system by ink.jet are both compacts and economical.  The Jet2NEO has a unique Sealtronic system that prevents the ink from being exposed to air, and therefore preventing clogging and additional maintenance between product runs.  The .UNO high resolution system features ink cartridges from HP and is a great turnkey solution for brewers.

When it comes to case coding for craft brewers, print image and code accuracy is key for successful distribution and sales.  Simple to use and maintain case coding systems from SSI Packaging Group include:

    •    Inc.jet .UNO
    •    Inc.jet . core
    •    Evolution 1 BY Digital Design

Of course, SSI Packaging Group is your complete warehouse solution as well with thousands of warehouse supplies in stock every day.  From boxes and carton sealing tape, to high speed lot coding systems for bottles and cases, at SSI Packaging Group “we help you pack an track your image”®

It has always been difficult to run pigmented inks with light, high-contrast colors like white, light blue or yellow in small character Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printers. Unlike black or darker colored dye based inks, pigmented inks require effective agitation to keep pigments from separating from the solvent carrier. Once the pigments separated, the sediment will clog the nozzle, filters, transfer valves and cause the print to lose contrast. The Leibinger Jet3pi Pigmented printer has numerous design features that enable very reliable operation, low maintenance and excellent print quality with pigmented inks. Here’s why the Jet3pi Pigmented printer is best-in-class:

• Leibinger’s unique printhead design retracts the ink gutter into the nozzle when the printer is shut down to form an air-tight seal, protecting these key components. Charge electrodes stay clean, keeping print quality consistent.
•  Frequency of printhead maintenance is typically weeks or even months instead of every few days or daily. 
• The “closed loop” system allows an automatic “Interval Mode” to recirculate ink throughout the entire system when not in use. This is especially important with pigmented inks to prevent pigment separation when the printer is not running.
  

The Jet3pi Pigmented printer is used extensively throughout many industries including wire, cable, pipe, extruded products, parts marking and packaging.

When a Leibinger printer is started, ink pressure is stabilized before the gutter returns to the open position. This is where conventional ink jets falter because the ink stream can “wobble” while pressure is building and clog the narrow slot within the charge electrodes causing poor print quality, fault conditions and messy clean-up. This printhead design also eliminates the “auto flush” cycle at shut-down which can dilute the ink supply and reduce print quality and contrast. 

Unique Features of the Jet3pi Especially for Pigmented Inks
    1.    The variable speed, magnetically coupled stirring motor on the bottom of the internal ink reservoir continuously mixes the ink when the printer is running. There is a stirring bar within the reservoir that effectively keeps pigments from separating. 

    2.    Ink is pumped through the main filter and into the bottom of the cone shaped ink chamber within the pressure tank. Pigment residue cannot collect since the incoming flow agitates the ink within the chamber. 

    3.    Leibinger’s diaphragm type ink and suction pumps run much cooler and don’t “grind” on the pigments like gear driven pumps in competitive printers. The result is much longer pump life and less degradation of the ink over time. 

    4.    Leibinger printers are designed to enable component level service rather than replacement of expensive modules or subassemblies that are not field serviceable. 

    5.    Preventive maintenance is recommended twice yearly. Jet3 PM kits are inexpensive and easy to install by either the customer or Leibinger technicians. 


All Leibinger printers have an “interval mode” feature which will automatically start the printer at programmable intervals up to 3 times daily when not in use. This feature is especially important for pigmented inks to keep the ink mixed. Competitive printers may claim to have a similar feature but only the Jet3pi will recirculate ink throughout the entire hydraulic system including the printhead and nozzle, not just the ink reservoir. This is key to prevent pigments from settling and accumulating within the fluid handling components. Almost no make-up solvent is consumed during interval mode.

SSI Packaging Group is proud to provide the Jet3pi CIj printer featuring pigmented inks.  Download the whitepaper and specification PDF here.

There’s been quite a bit of conversation about food waste this summer.  As a way of clearing up some common questions about date labels on food packages, let’s look at what they actually mean.

When browsing the shelves in a grocery store you’ll notice 4 main types of date codes on products.  Each of these codes are for a specific target group and mean different things.

“best by” - This is date code is a guide for the average consumer.  According to David Fikes, vice President of Consumer/Community Affairs and Communications for Food Marketing Institute, an item labeled “best by” usually means that the product will taste best by a specific date.  However, the consumer may be able to consume it following that date, with a few exceptions.

“use by” - This is just another way of stating “best by” and means the same thing.  Someone will have the best experience with a product prior to the “use by” or “best by” date.

“sell by” - When items are stocked on shelves, employees use the “sell by” date to determine if they can place it on the shelves for sale.  Therefore, this date is targeting the retailer and not the consumer.  The product will probably be just fine after the "sell by" date, but the store and manufacture want it off the shelves quickly to rotate in new stock.

“expiration date” - Baby formula and a few other baby food products may include a true “expiration date.”  After the “expiration date” the nutrients in these baby-related food items may begin to diminish and not be beneficial for the infant.  If an item has an "expiration date" on it, then it's there because of federal regulations.

The bottom line is that these dates have less to do with safety and more to do with quality.  There are, of course, exceptions such as dairy products, fresh vegetables, and fresh meats.  For these items one should check resources such as the Safe Storage chart we posted in January, 2015 or use the new FDA FookKeeper app.

A useful tool for consumers to check the safety of foods is a recently release app but he FDA called FoodKeeper.  This helpful app enables consumers to look up the shelf life of food items before and after they are opened.  The FDA released this app to help prevent food waste.

• Download it in iTunes Here
  
• Download it at Google Play Here

SSI Packaging Group is committed to food safety and reducing waste.  Through our marking and coding solutions for food packaging manufacturers can be assured their products are label correctly and efficiently and consumers will be able to clearly read date codes that relate to their buying experience.  Our CIJ printers like the Jet2neo are ideal for food marking and coding with it’s sealed nozzles that never clog or dry out.  The newly released Jet3up is ready to use in any industry for almost any application and can be used with pigmented inks.  SSI Packaging also offers the Matthews e-Mark series laser marking and coding solutions that provide surgical precession coding with virtually zero maintenance.  Contact us for the best, most affordable marking and coding solution for your specific need at 804.649.1111 or sales@ssipackaging.com

The high-performance JET2neo Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printer is the ideal printing and marking system for all non-contact marking and coding tasks on a wide variety of materials, products and packages. The “Sealtronic“ automatic nozzle seal sets this CIJ printer from the competition ensuring that the ink never dries out.  Built with high-quality materials, sophisticated technologies and the best production processes the JET2neo has a 24 month warranty to keep your production up and running with ease.

Permanent Availability
The LEIBINGER automatic nozzle seal, “Sealtronic”,  always guarantees immediate availability of the JET2neo. Even after long-term shut-downs the JET2neo will not dry out and is ready to resume printing immediately. 

Economical Maintenance
Only parts that are actually worn are replaced when the JET2neo undergoes service. The long-life ink bottles deliver more than 120 million characters.  LEIBINGER industrial marking and coding systems contain no cores, cubes, ink modules or expensive assembly units that need replacing.

JET2Neo CIJ Printer distributed By SSI Packaging Group
For over 40 years SSI Packaging Group has been a leader of innovation within the marking and coding industry.  SSI Packaging Group specializes in packaging and industrial marking and coding in the Mid-Atlantic and South Eastern states.  We are experts in the field of inkjet coding, laser coding, labeling, packaging materials, and shipping supplies.  We have sales representatives throughout the Mid-Atlantic and South East who can provide cost-effective solutions to your packaging, and marking and coding needs.  The JET2neo CIJ printer is one of our most versatile inkjet systems. 

Learn More / Tech Specs Available Here