Domino Printing Sciences has developed the Gx-Series, a new range of high-quality thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers optimised for fast, efficient and accurate coding.

The Gx-Series has been developed in consultation with customers across the globe, to ensure the printers meet the needs of manufacturers now and in the future.

Customers can select from one to four print heads, which can be stitched together to allow for print heights of up to 50.8mm, or used separately to print on multiple lines at speeds of up to 300m/min. The maintenance-free print heads are equipped with LED status signals to show which cartridges need changing, while Domino’s AutoSwap technology enables cartridges to be changed while printing, without interrupting production.

Gx-Series print heads are available with a range of advanced coloured inks suitable for use on both porous and non-porous substrates to create long-lasting, high-contrast alphanumeric text, graphics, human- and machine-readable codes. Rapid dry times and good adhesion deliver optimum performance on fast-paced production lines. For food and beverage applications, EuPia and Swiss List compliant ink options are available for high-quality coding on direct contact food packaging. This includes flexible films, porous shelf-ready packaging, and shipping boxes.

The next-generation printers can be used to print high-density machine-readable codes, including data matrix codes, providing opportunities for enhanced product labelling and late-stage customisation within manufacturing operations. Advanced track trace and item-level serialisation are available via Dynamark protocol, with coding in compliance with pharmaceutical regulations including the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (FMD) US rug Quality and Security Act (DQSA), according to GS1 standards.

Gx-Series printers are compatible with all languages and suitable for use across industries including pharmaceuticals, electronics, and food and beverage, with customisable options available to suit individual production needs.

Designed for use on product labels, flexible films and cartons, Gx-Series TIJ printers are claimed to be equipped to meet the needs of an evolving global marketplace characterised by rapid changes in production schedules and fluctuations in consumer demand.

Alexandros Mountis, TIJ product manager at Domino, explained, ‘Today, more than ever, manufacturers need to be equipped to handle last minute changes to production schedules, including quick product changeovers, in order to satisfy demand. The Gx-Series has been designed with this level of agility in mind – to help manufacturers to keep pace with the pressures of a modern marketplace.

Currently, key industries including food, beverage and pharmaceuticals are struggling with unprecedented levels of demand owing to the coronavirus pandemic. This demand is especially difficult to address while adhering to government advice on social distancing and coping with a reduction in staff numbers.’

Mr Mountis continued, ‘This is a prime example of the challenges that we strive to help manufacturers overcome. With the Gx-Series, we have designed a printer that is versatile, and easy to adapt to changing production schedules, which also provides a solution for remote monitoring and control, allowing production and engineering to focus on value-add projects.’

Further, the Domino Gx-Series is optimised for smart factory applications, providing manufacturers with a seamless, future-proof option for evolving production processes. Gx-Series printers are easy to use and to integrate into existing manufacturing procedures, with enhanced connectivity, a simple user interface and a smaller overall footprint. Domino Cloud capability provides remote monitoring, while options for EtherCAT and PLC communications allow for fast data transfer and synchronisation.

Regarding their compatibility with factories of the future and Industry 4.0, Mr Mountis said, ‘The Gx-Series utilises industry standards, which allows for integration into existing automation systems to provide a truly Industry 4.0 ready coding and marking solution. The option of EtherCAT communication allows our TIJ printers to communicate directly with programmable logic controllers to provide greater control of manufacturing processes, translating into increased productivity, and reduced coding errors.’

He goes on, ‘In a modern marketplace, consumers, retailers, and governments are demanding more information from manufacturers. We have developed the Gx-Series in response to these changes. This empowers our customers with greater control over their product labelling, and enables them the ability to produce high-quality, machine-readable codes for marketing information, traceability data and serialisation.’