Coding & marking know-how
Practical, no-nonsense guides on getting date and lot codes right — how to match inks to your substrate, code cold-chain and plastic packaging, and choose the right marking technology for your line.
How to Choose Ink for Coding HDPE & Plastic Containers
HDPE, PP and PET are non-porous with low surface energy, so water-based ink beads up and rubs off. Here is how to match ink chemistry to plastic for codes that stick.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026Coding & Marking for Cold-Chain & Freezer Packaging
Condensation and cold surfaces make codes smear or fail to adhere. Here is how to keep date and lot codes legible on refrigerated and frozen packaging.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026Thermal Inkjet vs. Continuous Inkjet (CIJ): Which Fits Your Line?
TIJ and CIJ both print date and lot codes, but they suit different lines. Here is a head-to-head on resolution, maintenance, speed, substrate, and cost.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026TIJ Print-Quality Troubleshooting: Missing Lines, Light Print & Smears
Dropped nozzles, faint codes, and smears have a handful of common causes. Here is how to diagnose and fix the print-quality problems you hit most on a TIJ line.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026What Is 1-Inch TIJ Printing — and When Do You Need It?
A 1" TIJ cartridge prints a one-inch-tall code in a single pass. Here’s which cartridge technologies offer it, how it differs from half-inch heads, and when the extra height earns its keep.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026Coding on Metal & Glass: Ink and Adhesion Guide
Cans, foils, and glass are smooth and non-porous — water-based ink wipes right off. Here is how to get durable date and lot codes onto metal and glass.
Read guide Jul 7, 2026TIJ Solvent Ink: How to Choose One for Plastic, Film, Foil, Metal and Glass
Solvent ink is what makes thermal inkjet work on plastic, film, foil, metal and glass. Here's how to pick one: the trade-offs, the handling, and how to test it on your own pack.
Read guide Oct 1, 2026Which Evolution Ink Do I Need? 4500, 4700, 4711 and the Rest
Evolution ink codes look interchangeable and are not. Here is what 4500, 4510, 4700, 4711, 4722 and 4720 each do, and how to pick from the substrate you are coding.
Read guide Aug 16, 2026The History of Inkjet: How a Desktop Printer Ended Up on Your Packaging Line
Inkjet grew two branches at once. Continuous inkjet bought uptime with maintenance; thermal inkjet put the printhead in the cartridge, a desktop decision that shaped industrial coding.
Read guide Oct 1, 2026