Large-size codes and characters to help brands mark packaging for anti-counterfeiting, track and trace

Guangzhou, China – Today at Sino-Pack, HP Inc. announced a 22mm wide-swath printhead for high-speed, high-resolution marking needs, including 1D and 2D bar codes, enabling brands to benefit from large-size codes and characters for advanced product identification, anti-counterfeiting, and track and trace.

Manufactured by HP Specialty Printing Systems using HP Thermal Inkjet Technology, the new HP 22mm Printhead can be easily integrated into OEM printing systems and configured to specific applications.

The new HP 22mm Printhead supports a wide range of stitch-free product coding and marking applications for secondary packaging, including pharmaceutical labels and cartons, secondary box label replacement, as well as variable data printing.

“Product identification is used increasingly in manufacturing and supply chains to help brand owners protect products. Smart barcodes and more data-rich codes require high print quality,” said Annette Friskopp, general manager, HP Specialty Printing Systems, HP Inc. “HP is bringing advanced technology to protect products with the new HP 22mm Printhead and inks. This new, wider printhead offers better image resolution at higher speeds.”

The HP 22mm printhead achieves the highest level of bar code reading scores, readable from smartphones to a handheld scanner, required in product distribution and logistics . Additional benefits include:

• A 775ml ink supply cartridge connecting to as many as four printheads, to meet production needs.
• Horizontal and vertical firing position provides flexibility for a range of applications.
• Fast printing speeds up to 150 m/min at 1200 x600 dpi
• Printhead replacement in minutes with no specific operator training, allowing continuous production.

The new HP 22mm Printhead will be commercially available in the second half of 2018.

Additionally, HP announced its HP2580 ink for food and pharma packaging received the European Printing Ink Association’s Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Printing Inks for Food Contact Materials (2017).1

HP SPS at Sino-Pack

At Sino-Pack in Hall 8.1-8230, HP SPS demonstrated the new HP 22mm Printhead in addition to the HP Scanning Imager-1300 labeling print engine and other technology.

The HP Scanning Imager 1300, leveraging HP Thermal Inkjet technology, offers OEMs a proven, versatile, color inkjet printer mechanism that minimizes development cost and effort, and speeds time-to-market. It now offers a snap-in/snap-out feature for printhead assembly, available with HP pigment, dye, and approved third-party inks.

HP Specialty Printing Systems (SPS) is driving innovation for labeling and packaging applications for a wide range of vertical markets, including product identification on primary and secondary packaging, in addition to on-demand desktop labels for a range of applications.

Learn more about HP SPS at www.hp.com/go/thermalinkjet. 

(1) For printing product identification text and bar codes on food and pharmaceutical packaging, in compliance with applicable regulations and commonly referenced industry standards.