Profound Comparison of Thermal Inkjet vs Continuous Inkjet

Understanding the printer’s adaptability to various packaging substrates, ink compatibility, and expected print quality also plays a significant role in making an informed decision. Some of printers that are generally used in many industries are Continuous Inkjet Printer (CIJ) and Thermal Inkjet Printer (TIJ). The question that might emerge now: Thermal Inkjet vs Continuous Inkjet, which suits your business better? To answer this, we will examine each technology in terms of resolution, speed, maintenance, and operational cost. To know about it, read some explanations below.

Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers have been the preferred technology for diverse industries to print variable marks and codes. This leads to CIJ printers dominating the market for years as the appropriate industrial printing solution.

Today, CIJ printers have many competitors, such as thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers, which can provide a similar high-quality finish to coding prints. Industries such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and electronics are increasingly adopting TIJ printers due to their clean operation, minimal maintenance, and high-resolution output. The appearance of TIJ printers challenges the dominance of CIJ printers on the market.

Despite all of these, which printer is genuinely the right solution for industrial packaging and labels? If you want to know more about the definition, differences, and how to choose the appropriate printer, read the article below.

Definition of Thermal Inkjet and Continuous Inkjet Printer

Thermal inkjet printings utilize replaceable ink cartridges as the black and color ink reservoirs. This characteristic is the result of the development of creating a smaller printer for a smaller scale of operations. 

TIJ printers start by heating up ink at high temperatures of up to 300 degrees Celsius. This generates a vapor bubble which will expand and propel the ink to the surface of a packaging substrate. After the ink droplets fall, the bubble collapses, which creates a negative pressure or vacuum to pull new ink. Then, the process will repeat itself.

As opposed to the TIJ printer system, the continuous inkjet printer uses replenishable liquid ink tanks, one for the ink and another for the solvent. The ink and solvent are then placed into the main tank, creating a mixture. This mixture will receive pressure and move to the printhead.

A high-pressure pump forces ink through the nozzles, which produce a continuous flow of ink droplets and make them fall towards the substrate. Any uncharged ink droplet will be returned back into the main tank. With this process, CIJ printers are more suitable for large-scale operations.

Thermal Inkjet vs Continuous Inkjet Printers: Tabel of Comparison

The table below provides the details of the differences between thermal inkjet printers and continuous inkjet printers. Use this side-by-side comparison to evaluate key performance indicators and determine which printer best aligns with your production demands. Look into these details with the printer manufacturer to ensure you make the appropriate decision.

Differences	Thermal Inkjet Printer (TIJ)	Continuous Inkjet Printer (CIJ)
Print Resolution	TIJ has a high resolution of up to 600 DPI.	CIJ has a low-resolution dot matrix of 1-5 Lines and 32 pixels.
Print Speed	Slow print speed with a low output of 90 m/minute.	Faster than a TIJ printer and suitable for large-scale operations with a high result of up to 800 m/minute.
Printer’s Capability	Able to print various variable data such as expiration time and date, barcodes, QR codes, product and batch counting, and graphics, in addition to WYSIWYG Message Editing, Shift and Rollover functions, and Multinational character printing.	Able to print various variable data such as expiration time and date, barcodes, product and batch counting, in addition to WYSIWYG Message Editing, Shift and Rollover functions, and Multinational character printing.
Ink Properties and Capacities	Ink dries fast, has a limited type, is UV curable, and is more expensive. The capacity is 42 ml/cartridge.	CIJ printers use a mixture of ink and solvent creating better print durability. The ink dries fast and has UV color inks. Good readability on glossy surfaces. The ink tank capacity is up to 3 liters.
Throw Distance	The ink throw distance is 8 mm.	The ink throw distances range from 12 mm up 50 mm.
Maintenance	Little to no maintenance is required.	CIJ printers need regular cleaning and maintenance by professional technicians, which results in a production break.
Ease of Use	Users require minimal training.	Users require training to set up and use CIJ printers.
Cost of Operation	Affordable and TIJ’s components are widely available on the market.	The price of the printer, ink, and components is high.

Read About: Thermal Printer vs Inkjet Printer: Which Is Better?

Quick Summary: TIJ printers are compact, easy to operate, and ideal for small to medium production volumes. In contrast, CIJ printers are optimized for high-speed, continuous operation, making them suitable for large-scale industrial environments.

Which One is Better, Thermal Printer or Continuous Inkjet? (Tips for Choosing It)

The answer to this question depends on the scale of your business operations. With the information provided by the table above, it’s clear that continuous inkjet printers are the right solution for large-scale operations producing high output. They can print faster than thermal inkjet printers and have a larger ink tank capacity.

In contrast, if your business focuses on a minor production operation, then the TIJ printer is the appropriate solution for you. In addition, it requires little to zero maintenance and training for setting up and using the printer, which proves to be applicable when you don’t want to call for professional technicians.

So, first, look into the scale of your business operation. Additionally, consider the types of materials you are printing on, ambient conditions in the production environment, and the durability requirements of the print on the product surface. Then, you need to know what variable data and packaging materials you want to use because the two printers work on different requirements. Don’t hesitate to inquire about more information about each printer from your printer manufacturer if you still can’t decide which is more suitable for your business. For expert assistance in selecting between TIJ and CIJ printers, contact Markcom for a personalized consultation and sample print evaluation.