Question 1

What is a CIJ (continuous inkjet) printer?

Accepted Answer

A CIJ (continuous inkjet) printer fires a continuous stream of charged ink droplets, deflecting the ones it needs onto the product and recycling the rest. SHICAI CIJ coders run at 1000+ m/min with a 0.6-20 mm character height and about a 1-inch throw distance, making them ideal for fast, non-contact coding on tricky surfaces. Unlike TIJ, CIJ never touches the product and keeps printing through dust, vibration and uneven geometry &#8211; the workhorse of high-speed lines. They use MEK or pigment inks and run 24/7 on beverage, cable, pipe and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast matter. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. CIJ stays relevant...

Question 2

When should I choose CIJ over TIJ or laser?

Accepted Answer

Choose CIJ over TIJ when line speed is very high, surfaces are uneven or recessed, or you need a long throw distance; choose it over laser when you want low upfront cost and colored or pigmented marks. TIJ wins on low maintenance for clean cartons; laser wins on zero consumables and permanence. For beverage, cable and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast dominate, CIJ is usually the pragmatic default. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. Because the stream is continuous, CIJ prints on uneven, curved and recessed surfaces that other technologies struggle with. CIJ stays relevant precisely because it is fast and forgiving of surface geometry...

Question 3

How fast can a CIJ printer run?

Accepted Answer

SHICAI CIJ printers run at 1000+ m/min, among the fastest coding technologies available, which is why they dominate beverage, cable and high-throughput packaging lines. Speed stays stable because the ink stream is continuous &#8211; there is no per-drop firing delay limiting throughput. Real speed depends on character size and line setup, but CIJ comfortably outpaces TIJ on the fastest lines. Because the stream is continuous, CIJ prints on uneven, curved and recessed surfaces that other technologies struggle with. Invisible and UV-readable marks are possible for covert batch or brand-protection coding. The trade-off is running cost: budget for make-up solvent and a small maintenance window, which is why total cost of ownership matters more than sticker price. Key points: SHICAI CIJ...

Question 4

What is the throw distance of a CIJ printhead?

Accepted Answer

A SHICAI CIJ printhead has a throw distance near 1 inch (about 25 mm), so the head can sit slightly off the product and still print a crisp mark. That gap is a real advantage on vibrating lines, curved bottles and recessed areas where a contact or very short-standoff head would struggle. The longer throw also means less risk of the head being knocked or contaminated by the product. Invisible and UV-readable marks are possible for covert batch or brand-protection coding. SHICAI CIJ (continuous inkjet) coders run at 1000+ m/min with a character height of 0.6-20 mm and a throw distance near 1 inch. The trade-off is running cost: budget for make-up solvent and a small maintenance window, which is...

Question 5

What inks do CIJ printers use and are they food safe?

Accepted Answer

SHICAI CIJ printers use MEK or pigment inks, and food-safe (low-migration) formulations are available for secondary packaging and compliance-sensitive lines. The right ink is chosen with the substrate and market in mind; tell the supplier if the code sits near food or on primary packaging. Pigment inks give high contrast on colored or recycled surfaces; MEK gives fast dry and strong bond on non-porous materials. SHICAI CIJ (continuous inkjet) coders run at 1000+ m/min with a character height of 0.6-20 mm and a throw distance near 1 inch. They use MEK or pigment inks and run 24/7 on beverage, cable, pipe and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast matter. For covert needs, UV-readable CIJ ink gives a mark that is...

Question 6

How much maintenance does a CIJ printer need?

Accepted Answer

CIJ needs a small, regular maintenance routine: daily or weekly nozzle and gutter checks, periodic filtration and make-up fluid top-up to keep ink viscosity stable. It is more hands-on than TIJ, but the procedure is simple and keeps the continuous stream clean and the print consistent. Budget a short maintenance window per shift; most issues trace back to skipped make-up fluid or a clogged gutter. They use MEK or pigment inks and run 24/7 on beverage, cable, pipe and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast matter. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. For covert needs, UV-readable CIJ ink gives a mark that is invisible under normal...

Question 7

What is the annual cost of CIJ ink and solvent?

Accepted Answer

Beyond ink, CIJ consumes make-up solvent to maintain viscosity, so annual running cost is ink plus solvent plus the occasional filter or service. The exact figure depends on line hours and character size, but on a busy line the solvent bill is the line item to plan for &#8211; which is why total cost of ownership beats sticker price. Against that, CIJ&#8217;s low upfront cost and speed often still beat laser on fast, high-volume lines. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. Because the stream is continuous, CIJ prints on uneven, curved and recessed surfaces that other technologies struggle with. CIJ stays relevant precisely because it is...

Question 8

Can CIJ printers print on bottles, cans and cables?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SHICAI CIJ printers are a natural fit for bottles, cans and cables because the continuous, non-contact stream prints on curved, cylindrical and uneven surfaces at speed. The about-1-inch throw distance and 0.6-20 mm characters cover most bottle dates, can codes and cable markings without jigs. For cables and pipes in particular, CIJ&#8217;s ability to print on a moving, non-flat surface is hard to beat. Because the stream is continuous, CIJ prints on uneven, curved and recessed surfaces that other technologies struggle with. Invisible and UV-readable marks are possible for covert batch or brand-protection coding. CIJ stays relevant precisely because it is fast and forgiving of surface geometry &#8211; bottles, cans, cables and caps all get a crisp mark. Key...

Question 9

What character sizes can a small-character CIJ printer print?

Accepted Answer

A small-character SHICAI CIJ printer covers a character height of 0.6-20 mm, spanning tiny component marks up to larger carton-level codes. Within that range you pick the size for readability and scannability; the continuous stream holds quality across the whole range at line speed. For codes bigger than 20 mm, a large-character PIJ or DOD head is the better tool. Invisible and UV-readable marks are possible for covert batch or brand-protection coding. SHICAI CIJ (continuous inkjet) coders run at 1000+ m/min with a character height of 0.6-20 mm and a throw distance near 1 inch. The trade-off is running cost: budget for make-up solvent and a small maintenance window, which is why total cost of ownership matters more than sticker...

Question 10

Is CIJ the best choice for high-speed beverage lines?

Accepted Answer

For most high-speed beverage lines, yes &#8211; CIJ is the default because it sustains 1000+ m/min, prints on wet or curved bottles and needs no contact. The trade-off is the consumable (ink plus make-up solvent) and a small maintenance routine, which laser avoids but at higher upfront cost. If the line is also pharma-grade or you want zero consumables, weigh laser; otherwise CIJ is the pragmatic pick. SHICAI CIJ (continuous inkjet) coders run at 1000+ m/min with a character height of 0.6-20 mm and a throw distance near 1 inch. They use MEK or pigment inks and run 24/7 on beverage, cable, pipe and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast matter. The trade-off is running cost: budget for make-up solvent...

Question 11

Why does CIJ need solvent / make-up fluid?

Accepted Answer

CIJ needs make-up (solvent) fluid because a small fraction of the ink stream evaporates as it circulates, and viscosity must stay exact for the charge-deflection system to place droplets accurately. The make-up fluid replaces that loss and keeps the ink in spec &#8211; skip it and print quality and reliability drop. This solvent loop is also why CIJ running cost includes make-up fluid alongside the ink itself. They use MEK or pigment inks and run 24/7 on beverage, cable, pipe and cosmetics lines where speed and contrast matter. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. For covert needs, UV-readable CIJ ink gives a mark that is invisible...

Question 12

Can CIJ print invisible or UV-readable codes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SHICAI CIJ can print invisible, UV-readable codes using a UV-fluorescent ink, so the mark is unseen under normal light but verifies under a UV lamp. That is useful for covert batch codes or brand-protection marking where a visible code would spoil the pack appearance. Pair it with a UV inspection step if every covert code must be confirmed on the line. CIJ needs make-up solvent to keep the ink viscosity stable, and a simple daily/weekly maintenance routine keeps the nozzle clean. Because the stream is continuous, CIJ prints on uneven, curved and recessed surfaces that other technologies struggle with. For covert needs, UV-readable CIJ ink gives a mark that is invisible under normal light but verifies under a UV...

CIJ Coders