HP 45 / 45A / 45si Ink Cartridges

The industry-standard thermal inkjet cartridge for coding and marking — for crisp, low-maintenance date codes, lot numbers, and barcodes. We supply HP 45 format cartridges in water-based and solvent chemistries to match your surface, compatible with standard TIJ coders and the Anser X-Series.

Match the cartridge to your surface

The HP 45 family shares one cartridge footprint but spans several ink chemistries. Picking the right one comes down to the surface you’re printing on:

  • Porous — cardboard, kraft, uncoated paper. Typically water-based inks for fast absorption and low cost.
  • Semi-porous — coated cartons, some labels. Often a hybrid or specialty formula.
  • Non-porous — plastic films, foils, metal, glass. Solvent and specialty (si) inks that bond and dry on sealed surfaces.

Why thermal inkjet

Thermal inkjet (TIJ) uses sealed cartridges instead of bulk fluid systems, so there’s no makeup fluid, minimal cleaning, and almost no scheduled maintenance. You get high-resolution variable data — dates, lot codes, barcodes, even logos — and you swap a cartridge in seconds when it runs out.

Still deciding on chemistry? .

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Not sure which fits your coder?

Tell us your printer and surface and we’ll confirm the right cartridge before you order.

Frequently asked questions

What is an HP 45 ink cartridge used for?

The HP 45 cartridge format is the industry standard for thermal inkjet (TIJ) coding and marking. It prints date codes, lot and batch numbers, barcodes, and logos onto packaging and products at high resolution with very little maintenance.

What is the difference between HP 45, 45A, and 45si?

They share the same physical HP 45 cartridge footprint but differ in ink chemistry and intended substrate. In general, water-based formulas suit porous surfaces like cardboard and paper, while solvent and specialty (si) formulas are made for semi-porous and non-porous surfaces such as coated stock, films, and plastics. Tell us your surface and we will match the right one.

Are your cartridges compatible with my coder?

Our cartridges use the standard HP 45 / 2580 thermal inkjet format, which is used by a wide range of TIJ controllers and printheads, including the Anser X-Series. If you tell us your printer, we will confirm compatibility before you order.

Can I buy in bulk or as a distributor?

Yes. Cartridges are sold by the case, and approved distributors receive per-account pricing. Request a quote and we will follow up with availability and pricing for your volume.