New Linx 9000 makes printing one less thing to worry about

Linx Printing Technologies has launched the new Linx 9000 Series continuous inkjet (CIJ) printer range. Following extensive customer research, the new models address the most common challenges on a production line to deliver consistently high quality codes.

‘Linx has long been renowned for its practical innovation: developing products and services that make our customers’ lives easier,’ said Mark Cooper, senior director product and marketing. ‘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.

‘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.’

The 9000 combines automated processes and mistake proof design with ease of use, significantly reducing the need for operator training, and mitigating against potential human errors. Among its innovations, the printer’s Linx PrintProtect battery back up (included as standard) helps to eliminate unplanned downtime, particularly in factories where mains power outages or staff pulling power plugs at shift end can occur. Developed to ensure fast, error free restarts, Linx PrintProtect provides up to three minutes of continued printing before commencing a full shutdown procedure if power is not restored. This utilises the Linx AutoFlush automatic printhead cleaning sequence to prevent blockages and delayed start ups. An extended battery feature enables the printer to be moved between production lines while powered on for up to nine minutes, to maximise production uptime and line changeover efficiency.

To prevent operator errors, the printer incorporates new user interface features. These include functions to quickly switch the UI language and create error free GS1 compliant Data Matrix codes with the GS1 code builder, while the customisable printhead cleaning prompts and on-screen 12 hour consumables countdown further protect uptime.

Connectivity and integration capabilities have also been designed for simplicity and speed. The 9000 Series communicates with other systems natively using ubiquitous Rest API, eliminating the need for intermediate software. Linx Message Studio adds flexibility with remote message creation, editing and direct transfer from a PC or USB drive. Enhanced Linx QuickSwitch real time communication protocol connects the printer with external devices, such as PLCs, boosting production efficiency and reducing operator interaction.

The Linx printhead is complemented by the optional Linx SureClean automatic printhead wash station. This delivers worry free automated cleaning, when required, that is safe, thorough and easy for any operator to complete without training. 

To make sure every product is accurately coded, optional Linx Iris vision system provides automatic inspection for code presence, positioning, readability and quality. This prevents rejects and rework while maintaining customer trust. Every 9000 Series printer is camera ready out of the box, with the Linx Iris camera connecting directly to the printers without requiring additional hardware or software. New codes can be trained directly via the printer interface using just the camera. User adjustable quality thresholds allow for maximum throughput, while minimising false positives and negatives.

The Linx 9000 Series is available with a standard 62µm printhead or an optional 50µm Mini printhead that reduces operating costs. The Mini printhead produces a smaller ink drop that allows messages to be printed using up to 48% less ink, while maintaining high clarity for QR codes or up to five lines of print with character heights as small as 1.2 mm. Solvent consumption can also be significantly reduced – up to 42% – by including the optional Active Airflow Control (AAC) module. Maintenance costs are further minimised, thanks to up to 24 month service intervals and a fit for life ink pump.

‘The Linx 9000 Series provides a CIJ printing solution that ensures maximum uptime, accuracy, cost saving and simplicity,’ concluded Mark. ‘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.’

Models in the Linx 9000 Series are available for dye based, soft and hard pigmented inks to print with high contrast and adhesion onto almost any surface.