Inkjet & Digital Printing

Linx coding range delivers low cost of ownership at PackExpo

Monday 08. November 2010 - Linx Printing Technologies' breadth of expertise and innovation in coding and marking will be on display at Pack Expo 2010, underlining the manufacturer's commitment to low-maintenance, cost-efficiency, speed and high-quality coding.

Models on display include Linx’s latest products in Large Character Marking (LCM), Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ), laser and Thermal Transfer (TT) technologies.
Linx will be unveiling the latest version of its Linx IJ200, Linx IJ350 and LinxIJ370 LCM printers (previously sold under the Prism brand in the US). All three machines are been upgraded with new features to further improve functionality.
The Linx IJ200 Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) cartridge printer now includes CodeDesign – an intuitive PC-based programme for creating codes – as well as additional operator languages including Spanish, Portuguese and French. These features enhance the printer’s convenient system of disposable TIJ printer cartridges, which are easy to install and change, as well as minimising printer maintenance and removing the need to purchase expensive ribbons or labels.
For companies with higher throughputs, Linx believes that the Linx IJ350 (or its sister model, the Linx IJ370) offers the ideal solution, with key innovations including a self-cleaning printhead with a patented recirculating system that avoids waste ink and saves time ordinarily wasted on ink purging procedures. New features including automatic cleaning even when the printer is in the idle state, for added convenience and reliability. Customers with multiple production lines will also benefit from cloning, backup and restore functions for a seamless transition of data from line to line.
Linx’s most advanced Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printer, the Linx 7300, is also on display. The Linx 7300 is designed to avoid the hidden costs of coding through the lowest possible running costs, minimised production downtime, error-free coding and future-proofing.
Amongst its features are dynamically adjusted service intervals to ensure customers maintenance requirements are based on the demands of their specific usage and factory environment, the FullFlush automatic printhead cleaning system, mistake-proof refills with the new SureFill system and error-free code changes with QuickSwitch software.
Alongside these will be the Linx 4900, designed to deliver a product coding solution that is clean, simple and reliable to use in a wide range of situations.
For applications requiring laser technology, Linx is exhibiting an enhanced version of its SL301 Scribing Laser coder, which the company believes is the fastest, most cost-effective and versatile coder available. Central to the Linx SL301’s effectiveness is its innovative Visicode technology, developed to deliver a much clearer code onto cold glass without compromising on speed, while keeping running costs low. This makes the Linx SL301 ideal for coding many different types of packaging, particularly bottles used for drinks.
The coder can be customised to suit individual applications for optimum compatibility and is also suitable for coding a wide range of substrates in addition to glass, such as PET and other plastics.
The Linx SL301 is the fastest laser coder on the market, increasing productivity over competition by more than 15% while maintaining a high quality code. With the widest number of marking head and lens options available, the laser has more time to code, enabling customers to code more information onto each bottle, or save laser energy for more economic operation.
In thermal transfer, Linx has launched an IP65-rated version of its best-selling thermal transfer overprinter. The new Linx TT5 Washdown Printer uses a specially designed Washdown cassette during washdown routines, to ensure that the equipment is protected against water and dust ingress.
The new coder is a response to market demand to reduce down time and the inconvenience associated with washing down thermal transfer printers. Since unprotected printers are liable to expensive damage if splashed, additional covers or enclosures are usually required for washdown – which is inconvenient and wastes time that operators could use for other tasks.