It all adds up

27 October 2009



In the current economic climate, with slashed budgets and a much greater focus on cost savings, manufacturers could be forgiven for being seduced by coding companies tempting them with a low purchase price in return for a commitment to buy its printers. Charles Randon, senior project manager at Linx tells Julie Foskett about the ‘hidden’ costs


Customers should avoid the trap of focusing on initial purchase price and be aware of what the hidden costs of coding are, as they could find that total cost of ownership is much higher than they first thought. Charles Randon at Linx explains why.

“There are a variety of hidden coding costs: maintenance costs vary widely; spare parts for some printers are expensive, and most printers need to have the printhead cleaned frequently,” he says. “Not to mention the daily running costs of a printer. So whilst purchase price might be low, it’s important to consider how much ink and solvent is used. Many printers use large nozzle sizes as standard and these use more ink. Meanwhile, printers that do not have a system to warn the user of incorrect refills could lead to expensive maintenance costs.

“To eliminate these hidden costs, we have developed the new Linx 7300, to deliver the lowest running costs of any printer available on the market. Data that we have collected from trials and other sources of information, plus feedback from customers, tells us that compared to the average competitor printer, a company can save up to £3,000 per year per printer.”

The benefits of the Linx 7300 design mean that:

• Service intervals are dynamically adjusted based on environment and usage, with intervals of up to 6,000 hours possible

• Routine maintenance is minimal as there are no expensive ink modules to replace and no ink tank changes between services

• Lowest solvent consumption is provided by the Linx 7300 Solver model

• The fully enclosed FullFlush system automatically delivers a thorough cleaning and drying of the printhead and conduit at every shutdown

• Fast, error-proof refills with new SureFill system, provides instant verification that the operator is using the correct fluids

• QuickSwitch software allows fast and easy code changes using a barcode scanner

• Integral USB port enables trouble-free transfer of message content between printers as well as easy printer back-up of settings and data

• Intuitive colour user interface incorporates a clear WYSIWYG display and navigable menu.

“The Linx 7300 is suitable for all market places and industry sectors. There are a number of different models in the range,” explains Mr Randon. “The Linx 7300 Swift is ideal for high speed coding applications such as canning or bottling. The Linx 7300 Spectrum is for applications requiring high contrast codes on various coloured surfaces. The Linx 7300 Solver, which reduces solvent consumption by up to 40%, is particularly beneficial to companies coding 24/7, where solvent consumption costs will be a major focus.

“The response to the launch of the Linx 7300 has been great. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our customers is that we’ve developed a machine that meets their coding needs in 2009. The take-up by our global distributor network has also been phenomenal, suggesting that the printer’s benefits and cost saving features are being recognised worldwide.

The first UK sale was made within days of launch to a food manufacturer that purchased two Linx 7300s. The customer will make savings of at least £2,000 per annum per printer from the Linx 7300’s reduced maintenance requirements alone, thanks to the selfcleaning printhead and Linx’s ability to offer variable service intervals.”

Maintaining the momentum, Martyn Ward, commercial director, is clear about what the future holds for Linx: “Linx will continue to focus on growing its worldwide market share through the appointment of new distributors that share in our commitment to delighting our end users.

In 2009 we have further innovated our offering and focused on generating real cost savings for our customers not only with our new 7300 printer, but also with the release of the Linx IJ350 and IJ370 Large Character Outer Case Coders. Next year will see the release of further new products that will enhance our end user experience and further strengthen Linx’s competitive offering.”


Charles Randon, senior project manager at Linx Charles Randon The Linx 7300 printer in action Linx

Charles Randon Charles Randon
Linx Linx


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