Matthews' new Linx CJ400 continuous inkjet printer comes to Australia having already won awards overseas.

User feedback drives prize winning printer design

28 November 2012

Matthews Australasia has released what it calls the “lightest, simplest-to-use continuous ink jet printer (CIJ) in Australia”, the Linx CJ400.

Released in Australia in September, the machine has already garnered industry plaudits, including being named Most Innovative Processing or Packaging machine at this year's Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PMMA) Group Industry Awards in Birmingham, UK.

The printer includes several innovations, based on end-user research, to benefit users, including an Easi-Change service module, up to three-month print-head cleaning intervals, reduced ink and solvent use, ergonomic design that moves easily between production lines, capacity to store settings for different lines, one-step set-up, simple message creation and editing, and fluid identification for mistake-proof refills.

The Linx CJ400 prints up to three lines of information such as lot codes, dates, times, text, symbols and other data onto almost any porous or non-porous surface.

While three lines is standard, using a special print-head, the CJ400 can print four to five lines, font size dependent.

The Linx prints onto products as they move on the production line, without contact. The printed code can quickly be changed without lengthy set-up procedures.

The printer can print characters from 2mm to 20mm high, so manufacturers can use one printer for both product and carton printing, thus reducing costs.

Further self-maintenance features include on-screen trouble-shooting, solving most operating issues without having to consult manuals or engineers.

Extended print-head cleaning intervals (typically three months) further enhance the low maintenance. This is a huge reduction in cleaning costs and downtime compared with other print-heads (some of which must be cleaned daily).

The Linx CJ400’s unique autoflush process means there is no need for printer or conduit flushing for shutdowns of up to four weeks, so fluids aren’t wasted and start-up is trouble-free after extended shutdown periods.