NEW CODING AND MARKING FEATURES FOR IMAJE S8

Coding and marking specialist to the engineering, manufacturing and logistics industries, Imaje UK, has announced new features for their versatile S8 inkjet printer range. To extend their appeal, there is a new data matrix coding option, better user functions such as ink and additive level indicators, additional external communication capabilities and extended language capability.

Increasingly used to improve the discretion and efficiency of coding, the data matrix code is now available as standard on S8 printers. Data matrix bar codes allow large amounts of data to be encrypted in a small area while substantially increasing the volume and reliability of data conveyed compared to traditional 1D linear barcodes. Even with up to 20 per cent of the mark missing, data is still readable when scanned. The data matrix bar code is ideal for coding small engineering components for traceability and inventory management, and is already attracting serious attention from the automotive and aerospace industry.

Production line stoppage, due to lack of additives, can be costly. To overcome this, the S8 control panel now has an indicator to warn when these levels are becoming low.

Coding systems are increasingly used within data networks. The S8 range has always been fitted with a universal RS232 for data links, now serial connections will include RS422/485 communication ports for faster data transmission over greater distances. The additional communication ports are also compatible with multi drop (bus) data networks.

Data loading now includes the addition of industry standard PCMCIA cards. These portable plug-in data storage cards allow easy programming of coding data. Printers can be reprogrammed while still running the current task and, where product is rerouted from one line to another, reprogramming new machines is achieved by simply transferring the card.

Exporters will appreciate the extended language capability with the availability of more alphabets, font sets and the inclusion of Arabic characters on the keyboard. Arabic, Croatian, Bulgarian and Romanian are now fully accessible as well as other major European languages.

Besides these new features, the S8 retains the key facilities that have made it a popular choice. The screen on the main panel is large and easy to read. Input is via a large QWERTY format keypad, with pictograms and scroll down menus to make it easier to programme many of the standard routines. These systems are also robustly built to cope with heavy-duty use in industrial environments.