Plug and Print for Leibinger’s New Intelligent Marking System

Leibinger, the third generation family-owned German coding and marking systems company, used the interpack trade show in Düsseldorf to launch IQJET, which it describes as the ‘world’s first intelligent coding and marking system for products and packaging’.

According to Leibinger, the IQJET – which is based on continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology – offers ‘Plug & Print’ performance and unrivalled up-time with consistently high print quality – without the need for cleaning. It requires no scheduled maintenance for five years, operating costs are as much as 30% lower than conventional CIJ systems and it also scores highly in terms of energy and parts efficiency.

Suitable markets include food and consumer goods sectors (FMCG), as well as applications in the industrial sector.

Commenting on the launch, Christina Leibinger, CEO of Leibinger, said: ‘with the IQJET, we can now give our customers even more confidence – and serenity – that everything is working as it should 24/7 when they’re marking products. You just plug it in and start printing – with absolute reliability. Plug & Print, as we say’.

‘The IQJET is so much more than just a CIJ printer’, she continued. ‘Our customers literally no longer have to worry about anything when coding and marking their products. And that’s a great feeling’.

Leibinger claims that IQJET is simple to integrate on print and production lines, and that operation through simple interfaces is intuitive and can be mastered by anyone, without requiring any prior knowledge.

To assure reliability and consistent quality, when not in use the entire ink circuit, including the print nozzle, is sealed airtight. As a result, regular maintenance and printhead cleaning routines are eliminated, greatly increasing productive time.

In terms of energy consumption, Leibinger states that the IQJET has the lowest consumption on the market: ~ 2.7 cc/h for MEK inks (MEK being the industry’s preferred solvent for inkjet inks). Further resources are saved by the ink cartridges being emptied down to the last drop. And they do not require separate disposal, as is often the case with conventional CIJ systems.

The promise of virtual elimination of maintenance is made on the basis of the intelligent SMART.CARE function, the use of durable components and the system’s unique design, which does not require a continuously running feed pump, thereby minimising wear and tear.