World First: Plug & Print Coding & Marking System – Switch it on and Start Printing

Published: May 05, 2023

Leibinger, a global innovation leader in coding and marking systems, introduced the world’s first intelligent coding and marking system – the IQJET – May 3, 2023, in Düsseldorf, the day before the opening of the interpack trade show.

The IQJET is ideally suited for the direct coding and marking of products and packaging. It can be used in the food and consumer goods sectors (FMCG), as well as for applications in the industrial sector. It promises “Plug & Print” performance and, as a result, unrivalled availability with consistently high print quality – without the need for cleaning. Requiring no scheduled maintenance for a full five years, the IQJET was designed to give manufacturers a transformed experience when working with Continuous Ink Jet (CIJ). Its operating costs are as much as 30 percent lower than conventional systems and it also excels in the increasingly important area of sustainability. 

“We can now give our customers even more confidence that everything is working as it should 24/7 when they’re marking products. From the moment production begins: With the IQJET, it always runs smoothly and without any delays,” explains Christina Leibinger, CEO of Leibinger.

The new IQJET is equipped with four cutting-edge assistance systems. One of them is the SMART.OS operating system with its large 10” touch display. Numerous interfaces, including OPC UA and an integrated PLC, ensure easy integration into the production line. Operation is intuitive and can be mastered by anyone – without requiring any prior knowledge.

The IQPRINT technology ensures 100 percent reliable printing performance with consistent print quality. When not in use, the entire ink circuit, including the print nozzle, is sealed airtight and the ink continues to circulate. Thanks to IQPRINT, regular maintenance and printhead cleaning routines are entirely eliminated – and this greatly increases productive time.

The SMART.EFFICIENCY assistance system autonomously ensures that the IQJET’s operating costs are kept to a minimum – also with respect to resources and the environment. A few examples: The IQJET boasts the lowest consumption on the market, ~ 2.7 cc/h for MEK inks. Its exceptional reliability prevents unnecessary waste and production scrap. Ink cartridges are emptied down to the last drop and do not require separate disposal, as is often the case with conventional CIJ systems.

Thanks to the intelligent SMART.CARE function, maintenance is virtually eliminated. The IQJET’s outstanding quality and reliability are based on the use of durable components, most of which are manufactured in Leibinger’s factory in Germany and subject to stringent quality controls. The system’s unique design does not require a continuously running feed pump, which minimizes wear and tear. As a result, maintenance is usually only required after five years.

Leibinger calculates the IQJET’s low operating costs using the example of the coding and marking in the area of Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), e.g. food packaging or containers for cosmetics and hygiene articles. A producer in the FMCG sector – with 4,000 production hours per year and 400 prints per minute with 20 characters/print each – can save close to 9,000 euros in pure operating costs over five years compared to conventional CIJ printers. There is also significant savings potential thanks to reduced productivity losses. An operating cost calculator on Leibinger’s website highlights detailed savings potential.

Leibinger will be at the interpack show in Hall 8b at Stand D26, where the new IQJET will be presented in the Leibinger Innovation world.

For more information, visit: www.leibinger-group.com