Bold, Low-Cost Coding on Cases & Bulk Packaging
Large Character (DOD) Printer Range
Robust, high-visibility inkjet coding for outer cases, sacks, drums, pallets and porous or non-porous surfaces — at the lowest cost per print.
Large Character Coding
Large Character Coding — also known as Drop-on-Demand (DOD) inkjet — is an industrial printing method designed to mark bold, highly visible text, codes, logos and barcodes directly onto outer packaging and bulk products. Instead of jetting a continuous stream of ink like CIJ, a DOD printhead fires individual ink droplets only when and where they are needed, building up large, easy-to-read characters one dot at a time.
It is the go-to technology for secondary (outer) packaging — corrugated cases, cartons, shrink-wrapped trays, sacks, bags, drums, pallets, pipes and panels — on both porous and non-porous surfaces. With print heights typically ranging from around 7 mm up to roughly 190 mm (depending on the printhead and configuration), Large Character Coding replaces costly pre-printed boxes and labels with on-demand, variable information printed directly onto the surface.
Because the system uses simple, robust components and large droplets of low-cost ink, it delivers an extremely low cost per print — making it the most economical way to apply clear shipping and identification marks at scale.
Why Large Character Coding
Large Character Coding is the preferred choice for manufacturers and distributors who need bold, legible information on outer packaging without the expense of pre-printed cases or applied labels. Customers choose it when they require:
- High-visibility codes that can be read across a warehouse or loading bay
- Direct printing onto porous and non-porous surfaces (cardboard, plastics, wood, metal)
- Variable data — dates, batch and lot numbers, product descriptions, barcodes and logos
- The lowest possible cost per code on secondary packaging
- A move away from expensive pre-printed boxes or label-and-apply systems
Typical applications include:
- Food & Beverage: outer case coding, batch and best-before dates, traceability
- Logistics & Distribution: shipping marks, handling instructions, barcodes for scanning
- Building Materials & Chemicals: sacks, bags, drums, and pallets identification
- Agriculture: bags, crates, and bulk packaging coding
- Manufacturing & Industrial: pipes, panels, profiles, and bulk product marking
- Packaging Converters: brand marking and variable codes on cartons and cases
The Most Common Large Character Problems We Resolve
Why Clients Choose Our Large Character Printing
Our Large Character (DOD) systems are built for the realities of a busy production and dispatch environment — bold output, rugged build quality and the lowest cost per print.
High Visibility
Bold characters up to large print heights ensure codes are legible at a distance — ideal for shipping marks and warehouse identification.
Low Total Cost of Ownership
Low-cost inks, simple maintenance and robust components keep running costs down and uptime high across multiple shifts.
Large Character Coding FAQs
Maintenance requirements for Leibinger are significantly lower than for other CIJ printers.
Since Sealtronic technology prevents ink drying, there are no daily or weekly cleaning tasks.
Routine service typically consists of a planned service depending on the application either every year or two years, which includes filter replacement and a general system check. Many customers report extended service intervals due to the printer’s stable hydraulic design and low-wear components. This reduced maintenance translates into lower operating costs, fewer service disruptions, and a longer overall service lifespan.
Yes. The versatility of CIJ technology makes Leibinger ideal for printing on almost any material surface, whether porous or non-porous, flat or curved, hot or cold, smooth or textured.
Typical substrates include PET, PP, PVC, PE, HDPE, rubber, glass, aluminium, tinned steel, flexible packaging films, shrink sleeves, carton board, cables, wires, pipes, automotive components, and extruded profiles.
With a variety of fast-drying inks — including MEK-based, alcohol-based, pigmented, soft-pigmented, and heat-resistant formulations — the Leibinger CIJ ink portfolio ensures strong adhesion, legibility, and durability for the widest range of industrial applications.
Marking Solutions provides full national support across South Africa, ensuring every customer receives fast and reliable service.
Our offerings include on-site installations, technical support, operator training, remote troubleshooting, preventative maintenance plans, and loan units when needed to keep production running.
We maintain a fully stocked inventory of Leibinger spare parts, inks, and solvents locally, allowing for rapid delivery and minimal downtime. Our technicians are brand-specialists trained directly on Leibinger CIJ systems to guarantee expert-level support.
All Leibinger CIJ printers come with a manufacturer-backed warranty, covering mechanical and electronic components to ensure long-term performance and peace of mind.
Marking Solutions also offers extended warranties and service plans, which further reduce the total cost of ownership and guarantee continued uptime through preventative maintenance and priority support.
These options are ideal for customers running 2–3 shifts per day or operating in high-volume production environments.
Most installations are completed within 1–2 hours, depending on the production environment and application.
This includes mounting the printer, integrating sensors and encoders if required and configuring print jobs. We do also include a full operator training for up to 4 operators.
Because Leibinger printers are compact and come with plug-and-play connectivity, integration onto conveyors, packaging lines, bottling systems, or extrusion lines is fast and seamless.
Operators can usually begin running production immediately after installation.
Leibinger’s closed hydraulic system and Sealtronic® technology typically reduce solvent consumption by 30–50% compared to other CIJ brands, according to real-world customer case studies published by Leibinger. Because ink never dries in the printhead, the printer does not need constant flushing or rinse cycles, and its intelligent make-up system only consumes solvent as required by environmental changes (temperature, humidity). Across high-volume operations — especially food, beverage, cable extrusion, and industrial manufacturing — these savings translate into significant reductions in running costs, often amounting to thousands of rands per line per year.
Leibinger CIJ printers are engineered with German precision and are globally recognised for their outstanding reliability, efficiency, and low cost of ownership. Their defining technology, Sealtronic, automatically seals the nozzle when the printer is not in use, preventing ink from drying out and eliminating the frequent cleaning and startup issues common in other CIJ brands. Combined with fast startup times, exceptional print quality on virtually any surface, and robust industrial construction, the Leibinger range delivers unmatched uptime and performance across all production environments
Absolutely. Leibinger printers are designed for continuous, heavy-duty industrial environments, and many customers run them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The printers use a robust, stainless-steel enclosure, industrial-grade components, and an extremely stable hydraulic system that supports long production cycles without performance degradation.
With no printhead cleaning, minimal maintenance, and fast, automatic start-up, Leibinger CIJ printers offer the lowest unplanned downtime — making them ideal for high-volume packaging, cable extrusion, FMCG manufacturing, and automotive production.
Yes.
Leibinger CIJ printers are designed for seamless integration into all modern production environments. They support product sensors, shaft encoders and Ethernet networking. The printers can be connected to ERP, MES, or database-driven systems and can receive dynamic print data for batch codes, timestamps, barcodes, and serialisation.
Whether mounted directly on a conveyor, onto an extrusion line, or integrated with packaging machinery, the system provides flexible mounting options and stable operation even at varying line speeds.
