Drop on demand printers

Large, sharp, high-resolution codes on cartons, cases and other porous surfaces, printed on demand so you do not need pre-printed boxes.

Make an enquiry See the printers

Big, crisp codes exactly where you need them

Drop on demand printers use piezo print heads that fire a droplet only at the exact moment and place it is needed. That gives clean, high-resolution print on corrugated cartons, cases and other absorbent surfaces, with characters from 1 mm to 520 mm tall when four heads are combined, at up to 600 dpi.

Because product details are printed straight onto plain boxes, there is no need to stock many different pre-printed cartons or pay for separate labels. One controller can run up to four heads, mounted horizontally or vertically, to cover a larger print area.

What you get

Up to 600 dpi on absorbent surfaces
Characters from 1 mm to 520 mm using four heads
Plain boxes instead of pre-printed stock
Ink fired only where needed, so less waste
One controller runs up to four heads

Built for clean, consistent printing

The features behind a reliable code from the first carton to the last.

Piezo firing

Each droplet is released only when and where it is needed, which saves ink and keeps edges crisp.

High-resolution heads

Finely machined heads with dense nozzle spacing produce sharp prints from a compact unit.

Adjustable character height

Change character height by tilting the head and adjusting the setup, with no change of hardware.

Four heads, one controller

A single controller drives up to four heads, in horizontal or vertical positions, which keeps operation simple and downtime low.

Clog-resistant inks

Inks formulated to keep nozzles clear and the print consistent from the first carton to the last, with operator safety in mind.

Choice of ink bases

Water, ethanol, oil and UV-based inks are available to suit your surface.

Compare the printers

Eleven models cover everything from compact carton coders to high-resolution, multi-head systems. Tell us what you print and we will recommend the right one.

Model	Print height	Resolution	Highlights	Enquire
HQ8500-M800	On request	On request	Handles uneven surfaces and prints from a greater distance than conventional heads.	Enquire about the HQ8500-M800
HQ8500-K256	130 mm	Adjustable	Print height and resolution can be adjusted using slant control.	Enquire about the HQ8500-K256
HQ8500-S510	70 mm	180 dpi	Produces clear barcodes and QR codes.	Enquire about the HQ8500-S510
HQ8500-Y2558	Up to 108 mm per head	600 dpi	Tall, high-resolution print at 600 dpi.	Enquire about the HQ8500-Y2558
HQ8500-R384	Up to 32.4 mm	300 dpi	A high-resolution print head.	Enquire about the HQ8500-R384
HQ8500-H1200	49 mm combined	600 dpi	Four ink cartridges with built-in nozzles, 12.7 mm each.	Enquire about the HQ8500-H1200
HQ1600	Up to 32.4 mm	300 dpi	Touch-panel controls and up to four heads.	Enquire about the HQ1600
HQ1500	Up to 70 mm	180 dpi	Good resolution at a lower cost, with up to four heads.	Enquire about the HQ1500
HQ1100 Series	Choice of heights	600 dpi	A multi-head model with a choice of print heights.	Enquire about the HQ1100 Series
HQ1000	On request	600 dpi	Simple, dependable single-head printing.	Enquire about the HQ1000
HQC	Up to 25.4 mm	On request	A very compact carton coder with a built-in or separate head.	Enquire about the HQC

Specifications are indicative. We confirm the exact model and configuration for your line before you buy.

Ink choices

Match the ink to your surface and your line. Ask us to recommend the right combination.

Ink bases

Water-based
Ethanol-based
Oil-based
UV-based

Colours

Black
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow

Where drop on demand is used

Explore how drop on demand coding fits the packaging you make.

Built for Kenyan production lines

Kenyan manufacturers, packhouses and exporters ship thousands of cartons a day, and the codes have to be readable in dusty warehouses and across a loaded truck.

Print product details straight onto plain boxes, instead of holding stock of many pre-printed variants.
Large, clear characters and barcodes that scan in dusty packhouses and warehouses.
Lot and batch codes on export cartons that overseas buyers can trace.
Inks matched to corrugated board and coated cartons, with water, ethanol, oil and UV options.
Low-maintenance printing, with local inks, spares and fault response.
Installation and operator training for your dispatch and packing teams.

How we work with you

Whatever you come to us for, the same clear process applies from first call to ongoing support.

Assess
We learn about your product, packaging, line speed and what needs to be printed.
Recommend
We propose the right printer, ink and layout, with a clear quote.
Install and train
We install and commission the system and train your operators on the line.
Support
Inks, spares and maintenance keep production running, with our team a call away.

Common questions

What is the difference between drop on demand and continuous inkjet?

Continuous inkjet suits small codes on almost any surface at very high speed. Drop on demand suits larger, higher-resolution print on porous surfaces such as cartons and cases, and it releases ink only where it is needed.

How large can the characters be?

From about 1 mm up to 520 mm when four print heads are combined, with the height set by the angle of the head and your setup.

Can I print on plain brown cartons?

Yes. Drop on demand printers are made for porous surfaces such as corrugated board, so you can code plain boxes and avoid the cost of pre-printed ones.

How many print heads can one printer run?

A single controller can manage up to four print heads, in horizontal and vertical directions, depending on the model.

Which inks are available?

Water, ethanol, oil and UV-based inks, in black, red, blue, green and yellow, chosen to suit your surface.