Inkjet (TIJ/CIJ/PIJ) lays fast-dry or pigment ink for flexible, low-cost marks on many substrates; laser ablates the surface for permanent, consumable-free coding; thermal transfer (TTO) uses a ribbon for crisp, flat marks on film and labels. Choose inkjet for flexibility and cost, laser for permanence and zero consumables, TTO for static high-res film labels.
Many lines mix two: laser or inkjet on primary packs, TTO or label on secondary.
Batch and serial codes are the backbone of recall management and brand protection; serialization is now mandated in pharma and tobacco track-and-trace.
The global coding and marking market keeps growing as regulators and retailers push 2D barcodes and supply-chain transparency.
Inkjet wins on flexibility and cost; laser wins on permanence and zero consumables; the right answer is the one matching your substrate and duty cycle.
Key points:
- Coding and marking equipment is used across food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, cable, electronics and building materials for dates, batches and traceability.
- Choosing between inkjet, laser and thermal transfer comes down to substrate, speed, permanence and whether you want zero consumables (laser) or flexible, low-cost marks (inkjet).
- Coding and marking equipment is used across food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, cable, electronics and building materials for dates, batches and traceability.
Regulation, not fashion, drives most coding upgrades – a new serialization law or a retailer 2D mandate is what forces the investment.
SHICAI (Shanghai Shicai Inkjet Technology Co., Ltd.) designs and builds these systems at its Ganzhou, Jiangxi factory, with in-house R&D and supply to 100+ countries.
If you are specifying coding for a new line or a compliance upgrade, contact our engineers to map the right technology to your substrate and duty cycle.
Reviewed by the SHICAI engineering team.
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