Linx Printing Technologies has launched its new Linx 9000 Series Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ) printer range, designed to help manufacturers reduce downtime, simplify coding processes and minimise operator error on busy production lines.

Developed following extensive customer research, the Linx 9000 Series focuses on addressing the day-to-day challenges faced by production managers, from staffing shortages and quality control issues to reducing the risk of coding failures interrupting operations.

“Linx has long been renowned for its practical innovation: developing products and services that make our customers’ lives easier,” said Mark Cooper, senior director of product and marketing at Linx. “With the Linx 9000 Series, we have truly focused on designing for the realities of the daily lives of production managers. These are incredibly busy people, dealing with everything from daily targets to quality defects to staffing issues. At the same time, they want to achieve an effective work-life balance, where their time away from the plant is not impacted by being called back because something has gone wrong.”

He added: “The 9000 Series therefore tackles the challenges that production managers have long had to accept living with, designing out the issues that industry manufacturers have traditionally treated as ‘customer training problems’. As a result, Linx 9000 Series printers enable production managers to have consistently high-quality codes, while spending far less of their valuable time on coding and marking.”

Among the features is Linx PrintProtect, a built-in battery backup system intended to reduce unplanned downtime caused by power failures or accidental shutdowns. The system allows the printer to continue operating for up to three minutes before automatically carrying out a controlled shutdown and printhead cleaning process to prevent blockages. An extended battery option also enables printers to remain powered for up to nine minutes while being moved between production lines.

The company said the new printers have been designed with simplified operation in mind, incorporating automated processes and new user interface features aimed at reducing training requirements and preventing human error. Functions include rapid language switching, GS1-compliant Data Matrix code creation, consumables countdown monitoring and customisable cleaning prompts.

Connectivity has also been upgraded. Linx said the 9000 Series is the first CIJ printer range to support native representational state transfer API communication, allowing direct integration with factory systems without the need for additional middleware software. The printers also support remote message creation and transfer through Linx Message Studio and enhanced connectivity with programmable controllers via the Linx QuickSwitch protocol.

Additional options include the Linx Iris vision inspection system, which checks code placement, readability and quality to reduce rejects and rework. Every printer in the range is camera-ready without requiring additional hardware or software.

The printers are available with either a standard 62-micron printhead or an optional 50-micron Mini printhead designed to lower operating costs by reducing ink and solvent consumption while maintaining print clarity on small codes and multiple print lines.

“The Linx 9000 Series provides a CIJ printing solution that ensures maximum uptime, accuracy, cost saving and simplicity,” concluded Mr Cooper. “It makes printing one less thing to worry about, allowing production managers to spend their valuable time on driving broader plant improvements, while also having a better work-life balance.”