In the Market to Replace Your Current Dot Matrix Printing System?
Ready to move on from hand labeling or roll-coding? Perhaps your old dot matrix printer provided years or reliable service, but now it’s time for a change. If you are looking to upgrade your ink jet printing system, or even if you are just getting into coding and marking, consider the following advantages of hi-res technology over dot matrix technology. You’ll be glad you did.
Higher Quality Print – Dot matrix technology is measured by the number of dots height-wise by dots length-wise. For example, a typical 7-dot printhead will print characters 7 dots tall by 5 dots wide. Piezo technology is measured by a more conventional dots per inch. Typical Squid Ink piezo printers print characters at 185 dpi, 25 times higher resolution than dot matrix printing! When comparing print quality of dot matrix to piezo technology, there is no comparison. Piezo technology prints razor sharp logos, barcodes and small character text, none of which are capable with dot matrix technology.
More Information, Same Space – Since piezo technology offers the ability to print hi-resolution characters, users can fit about 10 times more information in the same amount of space when compared to dot matrix technology. Expiration dates, quantities, weights, product identification, bar codes, even ingredient lists can all be printed in the same space as a single line of dot matrix print when using piezo technology.
Larger Characters – Most dot matrix systems print in the 3/4” to 1” print height range and max out at 2” or less. Piezo technology features taller printheads that print up to 2.8” or more. Squid Ink’s CoPilot 500 features a 2.8” printhead that offers 60% larger characters than the 1.75” SQ/2 Scorpion dot matrix printhead. Larger characters mean more visibility of your message from a distance, allowing users to easily read messages in dimly lit warehouses, or on products stored high up on a storage rack.
Better Suited for Label Replacement – If you are looking to save money and replace print and apply labels with ink jet technology, piezo printing is the logical choice. Piezo technology offers high quality print that compares with thermal transfer technology at a fraction of the cost. Typical Squid Ink piezo applications are 1/10 the cost of print and apply labeling applications. For many customers, full case decoration saves the hassles of managing pre-printed inventory. Eliminate the pre-print inventories, ribbons and labels, and print directly on your cases!
Logos and Symbols – Need to print bar codes? Logos? Small character text or industry symbols? Better use piezo technology because none of those can be done effectively with low resolution dot matrix technology. Squid Ink’s 185 dpi piezo technology ensures clean, crisp marks for printing bar codes, logos and small character.
Message Creation – Message creation is a snap with the WYSIWYG software utilized by Squid Ink’s piezo printing systems. Drag and drop text fields and bar codes, and easily insert and re-size logos with Squid Ink’s Orion software. Create messages on a PC and transfer them to your Squid Ink piezo printer via USB device, wireless tablet, or network connection. Dot matrix messages are usually created on a 2-line backlit display with character codes and a built-in keypad or handheld input device. Get out with the old, and in with the new when using today’s piezo technology.
Virtually Unlimited Message Storage – Have a lot of message formats? You’re not alone. As co-packing, branding and global selling increases, manufacturers are forced to label their products accordingly and meet their growing customers’ needs. This increases the number of different message formats required for today’s ink jet printing systems. Older dot matrix systems are limited to 32, 64, or 128 different formats, creating an issue for many manufacturers. Squid Ink’s piezo systems accommodate a virtually unlimited message storage capacity, making this requirement a snap.
Smaller Footprint – Sometimes installing a printhead in tight spaces on your conveyor line can be a challenge. Fortunately, Squid Ink’s piezo printheads are minimized to make installation easy. Squid Ink’s CoPilot 128 printheads, for example, are 3 times smaller than their SQ/2 dot matrix counterparts, and a fraction of the size of competitive dot matrix printers, making installation a breeze. And all of Squid Ink’s piezo printheads can be mounted separate from their controllers, allowing flexibility to mount the printhead where it’s needed on the line, while placing the controller out on the aisle where it is most convenient for the user.
External Devices – Today’s piezo printers feature all of the technology advancements that users have come to rely on. Options like encoders, low ink warning lights, external trigger devices, bar code scanners, USB drives and other devices add functionality to printing systems and are a critical component to the plant requirements. Many of the older dot matrix systems don’t have this capability, making them impractical for many users.
Pigmented Inks – Ink jet printing on dark colored surfaces is difficult. Dye-based inks don’t have the opacity to cover a dark surface and can’t be read due to their translucent nature. Pigmented inks include microscopic particles of opaque solids that block out the dark surface beneath the mark. Keeping those particles in solution so they don’t clog the printhead orifices presents a challenge for ink jet printing. Squid Ink’s pigmented ink system for piezo printers is a proven option for pigmented ink users. The system constantly stirs the ink, keeping particles in solution and providing maintenance-free operation. Systems like this are not available for dot matrix printers.
Our Hi-Res Piezo Solutions
- COPILOT
- COPILOT 128
- COPILOT 256
- COPILOT 500
