Diagraph's Blog

Companies rely on engineers or technicians to keep production lines up and running. Because these job functions are essential to hitting production targets, it is critically important that their skill level on equipment is proficient. The amount of time and money that will have to be invested in training production line workers should be a major deciding factor when deciding to replace product identification equipment. 

Many manufacturers apply variable information such as lot, batch and expiration dates on their products with continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology for the following reasons:

• Relatively low capital costs
• Capability to print in any orientation on most materials at high speeds
• Ability to install one or two CIJ printers on each packaging production line

The Linx 8900 series offered by Diagraph offers an additional benefit: minimal need for line operators to learn new procedures when the units are introduced to the production line. 

Linx 8900 Service Features
 

Traditionally, CIJ printers require the attention of skilled labor to keep printers clean (which is critical to operation) or to tweak print quality at the print head level. The industry leading Linx 8900 series printers can be operated and maintained with minimal touches due to the following features:

• A sealed print head design with no moving [parts that allows 100 starts and stops without cleaning—no need to tweak nozzles or gutters to maintain operation or print quality

• An intuitive user interface that is easy to understand and use. With a 10” capacitive color touchscreen, the user interface is icon-driven, similar to a smartphone interface. Onscreen prompts guide the user through common actions taken on the system.

• A customizable carousel on the main screen puts critical actions such as message editing right at the fingertips of the labor on your line.

• Self-service design made possible by replacing an Easi-Change module. This simple action can be completed by anyone on the production line—no skilled labor required. Changing the module takes less than 30 minutes and can be completed with the printer still on the production line.

• The Help feature in the user interface gives Operator Manual instructions for routine maintenance procedures or troubleshooting.

If you are considering replacing existing CIJ equipment and need it to operate with minimal intervention and training, the simple operation and maintenance of the Linx 8900 series printer makes it the right piece of equipment for you.