Selecting the correct industrial printer consumables is vital for maintaining smooth production processes and managing expenses effectively. An efficient coder or printer prevents costly machine replacements due to sudden breakdowns and minimizes interruptions and recalls caused by defective markings. 

Proper marking and coding are essential for product safety and traceability, making it imperative for manufacturers to invest in suitable industrial inkjet printers to avoid errors and recalls. This ensures enhanced productivity and minimizes downtime caused by unexpected machine failures.

Here are the tips to consider when managing your inkjet consumables for your manufacturing coders and printers: 

3 Tips to Manage Your Inkjet Consumables for Manufacturing 

1. Usage 

Every type of inkjet consumable has its own specifications on how to use it, but generally they apply similar materials to their printing processes, so there are well established practices in the industry for you to consider.

• Set Rules For Printing 

Set standards for your printing  line to reduce wastage of resources. This is also called a printing policy, which establishes the format and procedures to be followed in order to minimize errors during printing or encoding. Check in what ways the printer consumables you are using can be best used in specific print processes.

• Monitoring Your Consumables Levels

Make sure that your ink printer and encoders levels are enough to last for your scheduled batch. This can be aided depending on the printing software or interface of your printer or encoder.

• Use Good Quality Consumables

Choose a trusted brand of printer consumables that is approved by the proper authorities and is generally regarded by other users as high quality or trustworthy. Also consider multi-compatible consumables or printers which can be useful if you ever decide to switch to a different supplier or equipment.

2. Cleaning 

Taking time to clean your printer cartridges or inkjet consumables saves you a lot of time in the long-run when it comes to printing or encoding your products. So be sure to follow these simple guidelines:    

• Maintenance Kit – Use a maintenance kit to swab or wipe the nozzles of your printers as well as the supply port with a cleaning stick so the inkjet consumable does not leak once it is empty.

• Always Install Inkjet – Leaving your printer without installing new inkjets will cause it to become dried up or clogged and will need extra cleaning time. 

• Check Specifications – Be sure to use printer consumables within one year of installing them and follow the proper temperature to be observed for them. Consider if you need to buy replacements. 

ALSO READ: Your Complete Guide to Industrial Inkjet Coder

3. Storage

Ensuring that your printer or inkjet consumables are still ready to use and are equipped with adequate back-ups, be sure to store them at room temperature, usually away from direct sunlight to prevent the ink from drying. Ideal temperature and conditions are storing it in a clean, dry area which can range from about 10 to 40 degrees °C (50 to 104 °F). You should also consider sealing the storage room to prevent any unwanted external factors affecting the quality of your inkjet consumables. 

Also don’t neglect to label and track the expiry dates of your printer consumables. Properly categorize and organize them so that you can easily check your inventory without hassle!

Carefully Managing Your Printer Consumables is Essential

In essence, effective management of inkjet consumables is paramount for the seamless operation of manufacturing coders and printers. By adhering to best practices outlined in setting printing standards, manufacturers can mitigate the risk of machine failures and errors, thus ensuring uninterrupted production cycles. 

Moreover, conscientious storage practices, including proper temperature control and diligent inventory tracking, are vital for preserving the integrity of consumables and maintaining optimal performance over time. Through these proactive measures, manufacturers can uphold the reliability and efficiency of their printing processes, ultimately contributing to enhanced productivity and product quality.

Elixir offers a selection of high-quality printers and encoders known for their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.