Aluminum cans and other forms of aluminum packaging are essential to a wide range of industries. Used to package everything from food and beverages to cannabis and personal care products, aluminum cans, bottles, and foil tops maintain product freshness and catch consumer interest.
Across industries, companies must mark their aluminum products with various codes to comply with relevant regulations and distribution channel partners. Required codes frequently include:
- Traceable lot codes/batch numbers
- Sell-by/best-before date
- Production date codes
- QR codes/barcodes
- Serial numbers
- Anti-counterfeiting codes
- Regulatory symbols
- Packaging facility information
If these codes are absent or unreadable, it can lead to numerous issues, including shipment delays, inventory errors, tracking loss, and regulatory non-compliance. Thankfully, InkJet, Inc. carries high-quality marking equipment ideal for industrial aluminum can printing and other aluminum marking applications.
Read on to learn how our inkjet printers and laser systems can enhance your aluminum packaging process:
Aluminum Marking Solutions
InkJet, Inc. carries numerous printer models and laser systems to meet different aluminum marking needs. Our aluminum can printing solutions offer industrial outer protection, fast coding speeds, consistent accuracy, and intuitive controls. Our systems are also compatible with other popular aluminum substrates, including bottles and foil.
This table lists our various aluminum marking systems and their general specifications. Additional information on each machine can be located further below. Click the title in the table’s leftmost column to jump to a specific solution.
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Inc’s Aluminum Marking Options |
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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 speed, wide ink compatibility, and versatile printheads of CIJ printers enable users to mark thousands of products a day with long-lasting, highly legible codes.
InkJet, Inc. meets diverse coding needs by maintaining a comprehensive CIJ ink catalog that contains dozens of formulas ideal for industrial aluminum coding. We have produced ink for over 30 years and carry numerous formulas with special properties, including:
- Superior substrate adhesion
- Ultra-quick dry times
- Anti-transfer properties
- Rub resistance
- Alcohol resistance
- Heat resistance
- Extreme temperature resistance
- Oil/grease penetration
- Condensation penetration
- Soft and hard pigmentation'
Whether your facility packages beer, paint, chemicals, or any other product, InkJet, Inc. can provide you with the ideal printer/ink combo for your application.
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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.
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See the chart below for a closer look at the DuraCode models’ most important specifications.
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Thermal Inkjet Printers: Anser U2, A1, and X1 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 around $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.
TIJ printers are often designed for slower speed lines and intermittent coding tasks, but some TIJ models also offer high-speed capabilities. InkJet, Inc. carries numerous aluminum-compatible TIJ printers of varying specialties and price points. Our current options include:
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Compact and cost-effective, the Anser U2 Pro-S is an excellent choice for operations that don’t require CIJ-level marking speeds. The Anser U2 Pro-S offers a 76.2 m/min max printing speed, 400 x 300 DPI max resolution, 0.5” max print height, intuitive operation, and easy installation. The Anser U2 Pro-S is compatible with aluminum cans, bottles, foil, and other aluminum packaging forms. |
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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). For product marking applications, the A1 maxes out at 300 m/min with certain cartridges. Users control the A1 through a large touchscreen interface. |
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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 3.87” 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:
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LCO2 Laser Marking Solutions
Laser marking systems are perfect for production facilities that require high coding speeds, reliable accuracy, and exceptional code appearance. Laser users can mark, etch, and engrave their aluminum packaging with visually appealing text, scannable codes, traceable serial numbers, and other essential markings.
Laser systems are more expensive than TIJ and CIJ printers upfront but do not use consumables. Moreover, they have minimal maintenance needs and do not require annual servicing. Depending on your product output, these factors can make laser marking more cost-effective than inkjet printing.
Inkjet, Inc. offers two laser models for aluminum applications:
These two laser systems primarily offer the same specifications and benefits, including:
- Marking speeds up to 2000 characters/sec.
- 24/7 uninterrupted coding
- Reliable ingress protections
- Long laser tube life
- Enhanced high-resolution mark quality
- Plug-and-play laser module for easy line replacement
- User-friendly control panel via computer or smartphone app
See the chart below for a closer look into our laser systems’ most important specifications.
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F8100C and LDR7100 Laser Systems |
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Improve Your Aluminum Can Printing Process Today
InkJet, Inc. has helped companies complete aluminum can printing applications for over 30 years. Today, we carry numerous CIJ, TIJ, and laser systems to meet diverse coding needs. Contact us today to learn which solution is right for you.
To learn more about aluminum can printing, contact us online today or call 1(800) 280-3245.
