Reliable Coding with an IP55 Rating for Challenging Environments

IP ratings are governed by the IEC 60529 standards and are used to provide a universal classification system for the protection of electrical enclosures against solid particles and liquids.

The IP55 rating consists of two key levels of defense:

In industries such as automotive manufacturing, electronics, and construction materials, fine dust particles are everywhere. They accumulate inside inkjet nozzles, which leads to clogging, poor print resolution, and frequent maintenance. Over time, this dust buildup can interfere with print quality, causing production slowdowns and increases operational costs.

In sterile sectors, like pharmaceuticals and beverage bottling, regular washdowns are necessary to maintain strict hygiene standards. In these environments, however, printers need adequate ingress protection as they are vulnerable to corrosion and internal electrical damage when exposed to water.

With IP55-rated printers on production lines, manufacturers can protect equipment from disruptions while maintaining compliance with industry standards.

In the complex challenges posed in industrial coding environments, reliable coding solutions must withstand dust, moisture, and rigorous operational conditions. An IP55-rated printer protects the key components by resisting dust and water infiltration. Automated maintenance and cleaning, monitoring tools, and diagnostics are features of a reliable IP55-rated printer, which will in turn promote uptime and issue resolution before problems arise.

By investing in an IP55-rated printer, manufacturers gain a future-proof solution that offers significant advantages of continuous high-speed printing. All without the risks of frequent failures or performance inconsistencies. Other benefits include:

• Lower Maintenance Costs: Automated cleaning and self-diagnostic capabilities reduce additional expenses by preventing printhead clogs, ink buildup, and unexpected failures.
• Extended Lifespan: Traditional CIJ printers degrade quickly in dust- and moisture-prone environments, reliable printers should be built to withstand extreme conditions, with a rating of IP55 or higher to enhance the longevity of the machine.
• Industry Compliance: Packaging lines marking procedures must comply with traceability, safety, and quality assurance regulations. Precise and legible prints are needed, as without them the risk of poor adherence to regulations increases.

The KEYENCE MK-G Series has been designed to overcome environmental challenges that are often unforgiving to other inkjet printers. As temperatures fluctuate and humidity and dust gather, print clarity and consistency suffer. With its real-time ink adjustments and advanced cleaning cycles, the MK-G Series can remain reliable without sacrificing performance:

• Real-Time Ink Adjustments for Temperature Stability: The MK-G Series eliminates temperature-based ink issues by analyzing ink viscosity and flow rates 10 times per second, providing a high-quality print even in factory heat and humidity.
• Prevention of Ink Dilution During Cleaning Cycles: Routine maintenance can lead to inconsistent print density and weak character definition. To fix this, the MK-G Series features a conditioning tank system that recycles cleaning solvent without diluting the ink concentration.
• Precision Coding: Traditional CIJ printers often struggle to maintain accuracy at rapid speeds, which results in distorted characters, incomplete codes, or unreadable barcodes. The MK-G Series is engineered with an IP55-rated structure for high-speed printing that maintains quality, even in a fast-moving and harsh automated production environment.

The KEYENCE MK-G Series is the world’s first self-troubleshooting CIJ printer, designed to maximize efficiency, minimize downtime, and seamlessly integrate into industrial production lines. The MK-G Series also features a Smart Startup and Shutdown feature that self-diagnoses before and after each cycle run to help prevent failures. Its all-around IP55-rated structure, including the printhead, the MK Dock, and the Operation Assist Camera, ensures total protection against dust, moisture, and harsh factory environments.

As it is built for high-impact environments and is rated IP55, it can withstand factory vibrations, drops, and other extreme conditions. With automated ink viscosity adjustments and its rugged structure, the MK-G is a reliable choice for high-speed industrial coding.