Sofia Martinez
Printing on plastic containers is a common practice for many industries, including food, beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and household goods. There are various methods for printing on plastic containers, such as Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printing, Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printing, and laser marking. Each method has its advantages and is suitable for different types of plastic surfaces and production line speeds. CIJ printing is ideal for coding and marking dates and lot numbers on plastic containers, while TIJ printing offers high-quality and precise printing for text, barcodes, and logos. Laser marking produces high-quality, permanent codes or engravings directly on plastic containers. Choosing the appropriate technology depends on factors such as the plastic type, surface shape, and production line speed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common plastics used for rigid packaging | Polyethylene (PE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) |
| Printing technologies | Continuous inkjet (CIJ), laser marking, thermal inkjet (TIJ) |
| Printing quality | High-resolution (up to 600 dpi), permanent, clear and high-contrast |
| Ink type | Soft-pigmented, U.V. and conventional |
| Applications | Lot numbers, best-by dates, expiration dates, text, barcodes, logos |
| Industries | Food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, household goods |
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What You'll Learn
Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printing
One of the key advantages of TIJ printing is its ability to print on a wide range of plastic surfaces, including containers, bottles, and jars. It is also suitable for curved and irregular surfaces, making it versatile for various products. The technology can produce high-resolution prints of up to 600 dpi, ensuring clear and consistent printing.
TIJ printing uses heat to eject ink droplets onto the surface. To address the challenges of printing on plastic, TIJ printers use specialized inks, including solvent-based and UV-curable inks, that are designed to adhere strongly to plastic materials. These inks are engineered to dry quickly and withstand handling, transportation, and environmental exposure, ensuring that the prints remain intact.
When compared to other printing methods, such as continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing, TIJ printers offer a cleaner and more consistent printing process with less mess and maintenance. They are also compact, durable, and easy to install, making them a convenient choice for many industries.
TIJ printing is commonly used in industries such as food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and household goods. It is particularly useful for low and medium-speed production lines, where clear and precise printing is required for product coding and branding.
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Laser marking
Overall, laser marking is a reliable and efficient method for printing on plastic containers, offering high-quality and permanent marks that are suitable for various plastics and applications.
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Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printing
CIJ printers use ink-based coding technology, and the right ink formulation can be matched to the plastic type and product-use environment to ensure excellent code durability. Soft-pigmented inks, for example, can enhance readability on dark plastic containers. Videojet offers over 640 application-specific fluids and a wide range of ink colours to meet your printing needs.
CIJ printing is perfect for coding lot numbers, best-by dates, and expiration dates on plastic containers. The technology enhances uptime and productivity with features like a make-up reserve tank and automated expert diagnostics.
Markem-Imaje is a reputable manufacturer of CIJ printers, offering a valuable price and a large portfolio of inks formulated according to stringent guidelines. Their printers are designed to optimise your total cost of ownership (TCO), efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. With their Intelli'Design principle, Markem-Imaje ensures that their printers can easily adapt to evolving marketplace needs.
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Printing on different plastic types
Printing on plastic is a versatile process that can be used for a variety of applications, from marketing materials like business cards and signs to product packaging and labelling. The specific type of plastic and the desired print quality will determine the most suitable printing method and equipment. Here is an overview of printing on different plastic types:
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Inkjet printing is a popular choice for PVC. It offers high-quality, precise images and can be used on flat plastic sheets. Screen printing is another option for PVC, as it works well with flat and curved surfaces, creating vibrant, transparent designs.
PET and HDPE
Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) printing is ideal for PET and HDPE plastics. CIJ printers use a continuous stream of electrically charged ink droplets, allowing for accurate printing on irregular surfaces like curved and textured containers. Laser systems can also be used on these plastics, employing a focused beam of light to ablate material layers and reveal the desired design.
PP, Nylon, and Other Hard Plastics
For plastics that are not solvent-sensitive, such as PP, nylon, and other very hard plastics, a pre-treatment process is typically required before printing. This can involve chemical pre-treatment, flame treatment, or corona treatment. Pad printing is a popular method for these plastics, involving the use of solvent-based pad printing ink mixed with a solvent, hardener, and other additives.
Thinner, Flexible Plastics
Flexography, or flexo printing, is well-suited for thinner, flexible plastics such as plastic bags, vinyl labels, and food packaging. It utilizes a flexible relief plate and can achieve better print quality than screen printing, although it may not produce the same high-resolution images as inkjet printing.
General Considerations for Printing on Plastic
When printing on plastic, it is important to consider factors such as durability, thickness, and printability. The plastic surface should be clean and free of any substances that might interfere with ink adhesion. Additionally, the chosen printing technology should be compatible with the specific type of plastic being used.
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Multicolour printing
Multicolour screen printing is a popular method for printing on plastic containers. This technique is suitable for flat or curved surfaces, including bottles, tubes, cups, and food packages. It involves using a screen printing machine to apply ink to the container's surface.
To achieve multicolour screen printing, several passes may be required, one for each colour. It is important to ensure that the container is properly prepared before printing to achieve optimal results. This includes considerations such as the container's material, thickness, and surface treatment. For example, some plastics may require pre-treatment, such as flaming or corona treatment, to open the pores of the plastic and allow the ink to adhere properly.
Additionally, the choice of equipment is crucial. A registration tool may be necessary to ensure that each colour is accurately positioned and repeated. The screen material, tension, mesh, frame, height, machine speed, ink viscosity, and squeegee settings must also be carefully considered to achieve high-quality results.
Another option for multicolour printing on plastic containers is to use a Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) Printer. CIJ printers offer versatility and precision, making them suitable for various materials and surfaces, including curved and textured containers. They create a continuous stream of electrically charged ink droplets, allowing for accurate printing. CIJ printers are often used for coding and marking information such as lot numbers, dates, and codes on plastic containers.
Laser systems provide another approach to multicolour printing on plastic containers. Instead of using ink, laser systems employ a focused beam of light to remove a material layer and reveal the desired design. Different laser types, such as CO2, fibre, and UV lasers, are suitable for various materials and can produce high-quality, permanent prints.
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Frequently asked questions
Continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing and laser marking are recommended for printing on plastic containers.
CIJ is an ink-based coding technology that is ideal for flat and curved surfaces and high-speed lines. It can be used to code lot numbers, best-by dates, and expiration dates.
Lasers produce high-quality, permanent codes directly on plastic containers by causing a material change, typically a color change or engraving effect.
The type of ink will depend on the specific application. For example, soft-pigmented inks are used for CIJ printing on dark plastic containers to ensure excellent visibility and readability. U.V. and conventional inks are also used for plastic bottle printing.
Videojet and Mangalam Plastic Industries are two companies that offer plastic container printing solutions.
