A Guide to Thermal Inkjet Packaging Printers for Food and Beverage Manufacturers

If you work in food and beverage production, you’ll know how important reliable coding is. Every pack, pouch, or carton needs a clear expiry date, batch number, or barcode - and it has to be printed cleanly, at speed, and in full compliance with regulations.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this is with thermal inkjet (TIJ) packaging printers. In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at what they do, why they’ve become so popular in the food and drink sector, and how they stack up against other coding technologies.

What Exactly Is a Thermal Inkjet Printer?

Unlike continuous inkjet (CIJ), which pumps ink continuously through a nozzle, a TIJ printer uses small, replaceable cartridges. The printhead inside the cartridge uses heat to fire tiny drops of ink directly onto the packaging surface.

The result? Sharp, high-resolution codes - often up to 600 dpi - without the maintenance headaches that come with other systems.

Why TIJ Works So Well in Food and Beverage

1. Crystal-Clear Codes

Best-before dates, batch codes, QR codes… whatever you need, TIJ printers deliver sharp, legible marks. That’s a big win when codes have to be scannable and easy to read right through the supply chain.

2. Keeps Up With Fast Lines

Food and beverage packaging lines move quickly, but TIJ doesn’t struggle to keep pace. You can print high-quality codes at well over 100 metres per minute without a drop in quality.

3. Plug-and-Play Operation

TIJ printers are small, light, and simple to set up. Swapping cartridges takes seconds, which means less downtime and less need for specialist training.

4. Low Maintenance

With no messy fluids to manage, no regular cleaning cycles, and no complex servicing, TIJ is about as close to “maintenance-free” as you can get in industrial printing.

5. Flexible Inks for Different Surfaces

From cardboard sleeves and cartons to foil lids and flexible pouches, TIJ printers can handle them all thanks to a wide range of inks - water-based, solvent-based, or UV-curable, depending on the substrate.

Where TIJ Fits Best in Packaging

Some common uses of TIJ printers in food and beverage include:

• Cartons and boxes – batch numbers, barcodes, and simple logos
• Foil lids – expiry dates and traceability codes for dairy or pharma-style packaging
• Flexible films and pouches – high-contrast product codes on glossy surfaces
• Labels – variable data and promotional codes
• Secondary packaging – scannable barcodes for shipping and warehousing

TIJ Compared to Other Coding Options

• CIJ (Continuous Inkjet): Great for very high-speed lines and long runs, but messy to maintain
• Laser Coding: Permanent and secure, but the upfront investment is higher
• Thermal Transfer: Good for flexible films, though less versatile across rigid packaging

TIJ often comes out on top when manufacturers want low running costs, simple operation, and excellent print quality.

Staying Compliant

Food and drink coding isn’t just about looking neat - it’s about meeting legal requirements and protecting consumers. TIJ printers help manufacturers stay compliant with:

• Expiry and best-before coding
• GS1 barcode standards for retail
• Batch and lot traceability for recalls
• Market-specific regulations around food safety and packaging

Clear, reliable codes protect your brand as much as your customers.

Summary

Thermal inkjet packaging printers have earned their place on modern food and beverage lines. They’re clean, simple to run, and deliver excellent results across a wide range of packaging materials.

If you’re looking for a way to improve print quality, cut maintenance, and keep your coding compliant, TIJ could be the answer.

Want to find out if thermal inkjet is right for your packaging line? Contact us today and we’ll help you choose the best system for your products and production speed.