Inkjet Printing On Rubber Parts & Products

Rubber is one of the most important materials used throughout the manufacturing world. Used to produce everything from small rubber bands and doormats to tires, hoses, gaskets, and other important automotive/aerospace hardware, rubber is interwoven into the fabric of our daily lives. Due to rubber’s strength and application diversity, the material has become increasingly utilized worldwide with annual rubber production has increased by around 6 million tons over the last 20 years.

Along with this growth in rubber production is an increasingly complex supply chain network used to distribute it. Often crossing international borders, these networks rely on traceable codes and markings to ensure that all products and substances are accounted for and shipped to the correct locations.

These take the form of:

These markings are essential to both supply chain functionality and quality control. As such, companies must apply these codes to all of their products and parts to comply with industry standards and government regulations. For businesses that produce thousands of parts a day, this can seem like a daunting task.

Fortunately, coding rubber products on an industrial scale isn’t difficult with the right technology. At InkJet, Inc., we help companies complete these applications by providing the hardware and ink necessary to code products in a fast, reliable manner. Here’s how businesses can comply with strict regulations without sacrificing overall efficiency by inkjet printing on rubber parts.

Find an Inkjet Printer That Fits Your Production Line Needs

To meet supply chain requirements and comply with government regulations, manufacturers need to use reliable marking hardware that can stand up against the challenges of industrial rubber marking. These challenges take many forms including:

Speed: Modern production lines move at hundreds of feet per minute. Line operators need to use hardware with high-speed capabilities in order to place codes without sacrificing operational efficiency.
Heat: Many workplaces utilize high heat to form rubber into the needed product shape. This raises the overall temperature within the facility, possibly affecting the performance of marking hardware. To create long-lasting codes and avoid downtime, companies must use coding hardware that is designed with an operational temperature that meets their needs.
Dust: Similar to heat, rubber facilities are often home to flying dust particles. These particles can end up entering unprotected printers to the detriment of the hardware inside. Without hardware fortifications, this can significantly lower code quality and damage the overall marking system.

At InkJet, Inc. we offer a variety of marking options that meet these needs and more.

InkJet, Inc.’s Rubber Parts/Products Marking & Coding Options
Coding Technology	Operating Method	System Options	Maximum Resolution and Print Height	Maximum Marking Speed	Cost Factors	Compatible Materials
Continuous Inkjet Printer	Propels pressurized ink droplets toward the substrate	DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment	70 DPI at 15 mm height	320 m/min.	Low to moderate unit cost, low consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging
Thermal Inkjet Printer	Uses heat to pressurize and eject ink droplets toward the substrate	Anser U2 Models	400 x 300 DPI (height varies by model)	76.2 m/min	Low unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Varies by model
		Anser A1	600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)	300 m/min with HP cartridges, 150 m/min with IUT cartridges	Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging
		Anser X1	600 x 600 DPI at 1” height (2” height with stitched print heights)	300 m/min	Moderate unit cost, moderate consumable cost	Cardboard, paper, wood, metal, plastic, rubber, flexible packaging

Continuous Inkjet Printers: DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, and Pigment

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers are non-contact production line printing systems designed to mark substrates moving at 300 m/min and above. Built with powerful ink circulation systems, CIJ printers can operate up to 24 hours daily without downtime. The wide ink compatibility and versatile printheads of CIJ printers equip users to mark diverse rubber materials of different colors and textures.

InkJet, Inc. carries three CIJ systems:

All DuraCode systems can mark porous and non-porous substrates at speeds up to 320 m/min. Equipped with an IP55 outer structure and able to operate in temperatures ranging from 41-113°F, the DuraCode CIJ can withstand potentially hazardous environmental elements to deliver consistently excellent results.

The DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen offer the same specifications and compatibility with ink formulas. The only difference between them is their input medium. The DuraCode Pigment has the same specifications as the DuraCode Keyboard and Touchscreen but uses pigmented ink instead of dye ink.

See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications.

Specification	DuraCode Touchscreen, Keyboard, & Pigment CIJ Printers
Nozzle	40, 50, 60, 70 μm
Print Height	1.2-15 mm
Maximum Print Speed	Up to 1,050 ft./min (320 m/min)
Print Distance	1-3” (25.4-76.2 mm)
Input System	Touchscreen or Standard Keyboard / WYSIWYG
Print Font	5x5, 7x5, 9x6, 11x8, 16x11, 24x17, 32x22
Operating Environment	Temperature: 5-45°C (41-113°F) Humidity: 0%-90%, no condensing
User Defined Field	Bar Code, QR Code, Logos, Clock, Counter, Classes, etc.
IP Rating	IP55 Industrial Protection
Gross Weight with Complete Package	45 kg / 99 lbs
Standard Features	Font library - Multi-language support - Traverse printing - 90-degree vertical printing - Special counter Counter replacement - Clock replacement - Encoder port - USB port - Ink recovery pump - Solvent flush pump - Micro print
Optional Add-Ons	Serial port - Network LAN connection - Positive air pump

Thermal Inkjet Printers: Anser U2, X1, and A1 Models

Thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers are smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective than CIJ systems. While CIJ systems typically weigh around 100 lbs and can cost well over $10,000, most TIJ models weigh 5-10 lbs and cost as low as $1,499.00.

Although thermal inkjet systems are compact and lightweight, they offer impressive coding specifications. For example, the Anser U2 Smart can create 400 x 300 DPI codes up to 0.5” tall (1” tall with the Anser U2 SmartOne). Higher-end TIJs like the Anser X1 can create 600 x 600 DPI codes up to 2” tall with stitched printheads. These qualities enable TIJ operators to complete rubber marking tasks as well as case coding applications

TIJ printers are often designed for slower speed lines and intermittent coding tasks, but some TIJ models offer high-speed capabilities as well. InkJet, Inc. carries numerous TIJ printers of varying specialties and price points. Our current options include:

	The Anser U2 Smart and SmartOne Thermal Inkjet Printer: The Anser U2 Smart is InkJet, Inc’s most affordable printer option. Available for $1,499.00, the Anser U2 Smart is compatible with porous and semi-porous packaging such as cardboard boxes, paperboard cartons, and wood. The system’s max speed is 76.2 m/min, and the max resolution is 400 x 300 DPI. The stock U2 Smart has a max 0.5” print height, while the Anser U2 SmartOne has a max 1” print height.
	The Anser U2 Pro-S Thermal Inkjet Printer: Compact and cost-effective, the Anser U2 Pro-S is a great choice for operations that don’t require CIJ-level marking speeds. Like the Anser U2 Smart and SmartOne, the Anser U2 Pro-S has 76.2 m/min max speed and 400 x 300 DPI max resolution. However, the Anser U2 Pro-S is compatible with more materials, for the printer can mark porous, semi-porous, and non-porous substrates.
	The Anser A1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: The first all-in-one TIJ that offers 2” printing and mid-message DPI adjustments, the Anser A1 is both powerful and affordable. Built with 2 cartridge slots, the A1 can create 2” tall markings with varying DPI elements (e.g., 300 DPI QR code with 150 DPI text). These qualities make the A1 an excellent case coding printer. For product marking applications, the A1 maxes out at 300 m/min with certain cartridges. Users control the A1 through a large touchscreen interface.
	The Anser X1 Thermal Inkjet Printer: Even though the Anser X1 is a thermal inkjet printer, you wouldn’t know that from its spec sheet. With printing speeds up to 300 m/min, the Anser X1 is one of the most powerful TIJs on the market today. Beyond industrial speed marking, the Anser X1 offers a 600 DPI max resolution, a 2” max print height (with stitched printheads), IP66 protection, and the ability to simultaneously control two production lines.

See the chart below for a closer look into how our TIJ options compare to one another:

InkJet, Inc.’s Thermal Inkjet Printer Options
Specification	Anser U2 Smart & SmartOne	Anser U2 Pro-S	Anser A1	Anser X1
Max Printheads	1	1	2	2
Display	3.5” Color LCD with LED backlight	3.5” Color LCD with LED backlight	5” Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen 480 x 800 (portrait)	7” Color LCD Capacitive Touchscreen (800 x 480 px)
Input Device	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad	Pocket-sized IR remote keypad
Print Height	0.5” with Smart 1” with SmartOne	0.5”	1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads	1” with single printhead, 2” with stitched printheads
Print Resolution	400 x 300 DPI	400 x 300 DPI	300 DPI	600 x 600 DPI
Print Speed	76.2 m/min	76.2 m/min	121 m/min	300 m/min
Print Distance	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)	0.25” (6mm)
Operating Temp.	0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~ 104°F)	0°C ~ 40°C (32°F ~ 104°F)	5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)	5°C – 40°C (41°F – 104°F)
IP Rating	N/A	N/A	N/A	IP66
Dimensions & Weight	(L/W/H) 4.5″ x 3″ x 2.5″ 0.49 kg (1.08 lb) – excluding cartridge and bracket	(L/W/H) 4.5” x 3” x 2.4” 0.49 kg (1.08 lb) – excluding cartridge and bracket	(L/W/H) 6.7” x 5.4” x 4.9” 1.8 kg (3.97 lb) w/o guide plate	(L/W/H) 11.5” x 5.6” x 2” 2.7 kg (6 lb)
Compatible Materials	Porous and semi-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials	Porous, semi-porous, and non-porous materials

Use an Ink That Works for Your Surfaces

When operating an industrial marking line, your ink choice is just as important as your hardware choice. All ink formulas have different properties that affect how well they adhere to surfaces. Inkjet printing on rubber can be particularly difficult due to the color and elasticity of the material. If one doesn’t use a compatible ink for their rubber substrates, the codes can come out either illegible or vulnerable to touch, heat, and other environmental factors.

To help companies avoid these problems, InkJet, Inc. offers a number of rubber-compatible formulas, including those with special properties like:

High-temperature resistance
Alcohol resistance
Non-transferability
Different colors

If we don’t already carry a formula that fits all of your needs, we also offer custom ink creation services. No matter which properties you require in your ink, InkJet, Inc. has something for you.

Inkjet Printing on Rubber Isn’t Difficult When You Have Expert Help

Do you need to improve your rubber printing operation? With the hardware and ink selection available from InkJet, Inc., you can ensure that all of your rubber parts comply with supply chain policies and government regulations. Call today to learn more.

For more information on inkjet printing on rubber parts and products, contact us today online or call 1(800) 280-3245

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