Inks and cartridges
Handheld inkjet coding works best when the cartridge suits both the surface and the job on the line. This page sets out the main ink types we supply, where each one fits, and what to consider before you order.
The cartridge range in plain terms
Our range covers the main cartridge types used with handheld inkjet coders in packing rooms, dispatch areas and warehouse marking points. Some inks are made for fast-marking non-porous materials such as plastic film, bottles, metal parts and glass. Others are better on porous stock like cartons, paper labels and timber, where the ink can key into the surface rather than sit on top of it.
We also supply white and coloured cartridges for dark packs and products, plus large-character options where the code needs to stand out on outer cases. If you already know the material, the print height and the type of coder you use, we can help narrow it down through our contact form.
Quick-dry solvent cartridges for smooth surfaces
Quick-dry solvent cartridges are usually the first place to look when the surface is smooth, sealed or slightly glossy. They are commonly used for plastic pouches, shrink film, coated labels, glass containers, metal lids and some pipes. In coastal humidity around Durban, getting the right solvent ink matters because poor pairing can lead to smudging during handling or while packs move straight into crates.
- Best suited to plastics, film, metal and glass.
- Useful where packs are handled soon after coding.
- Often chosen for lot numbers, date codes and short traceability text.
- Needs sensible storage and nozzle care to prevent drying at the print face.
These cartridges are not a one-type-fits-all item. Surface coatings vary a lot, and even two films that look alike can take ink differently, so a proper match saves waste and poor marks on the line.
Water-based cartridges for cartons, paper and wood
When you are coding corrugated cartons, paper sleeves, kraft packs or untreated wood, water-based cartridges are often the better choice. They sink into porous stock more naturally and can give a dark, readable mark without the same behaviour you see on sealed plastic. Warehouses using handheld coders for carton identification, batch text or shipper marks often start here.
- Well suited to cartons, paper labels, paper sacks and wood.
- Common for outer-case coding and general warehouse marking.
- Usually a practical option where absorbent surfaces are involved.
- Can help keep text edges cleaner on porous boards.
Board grade still matters. A dense coated carton can behave differently from an uncoated shipping case, so it helps to tell us exactly what the code is going onto, not just that it is a carton.
White and coloured inks on dark packs
Black text is not much use on a dark blue pouch or a black plastic tub. White and coloured cartridges are used where contrast is the main issue and the code must stay easy to read under warehouse lights or on a moving pack line. These inks are selected by looking at the base material first, then the colour needed for visibility.
A white cartridge for a dark plastic bottle may not be the same kind of product as a coloured cartridge used on an absorbent outer. That is why the surface and the required contrast need to be considered together. If the mark will be read at a distance on cases or bins, character size matters just as much as ink colour.
Large-character cartridges for shipping cases
Some jobs need more than a small date or batch code. Large-character cartridges are used where cartons, crates or shipping cases need bold text that can be picked up quickly in dispatch or receiving. They are helpful for product names, route marks, pallet references or simple warehouse identification on outer packaging.
- Designed for bigger, more visible marks on outer packaging.
- Useful in dispatch areas, packhouses and warehouse aisles.
- Often paired with porous case material such as corrugated board.
- Chosen when readibility matters more than compact coding.
If your coder supports more than one print height, it is worth checking the cartridge and machine pairing before ordering, otherwise you can land up with the wrong output for the space available.
A practical way to choose between options
The quickest route is to match the cartridge to four things: the surface, the background colour, the size of the code and the coder model. That trims out most of the wrong choices early. We do not sell the handheld coders themselves, but we do help customers match cartridges to compatible units and typical production use.
- Choose quick-dry solvent when the surface is non-porous or sealed.
- Choose water-based when the material is porous, like carton or wood.
- Choose white or another colour when dark backgrounds reduce contrast.
- Choose large-character when outer cases need bold, visible text.
- Check compatibility where the coder accepts specific cartridge formats only.
It also helps to mention whether the code is a short date stamp, a longer traceability line, or a larger case mark. Storage conditions matter too. Heat in a loading area, dust in a packhouse or long pauses between runs can all affect how a cartridge behaves, and a small detail here can save a lot of grief later.
Explore the range
Quick-dry solvent cartridges
Fast-setting cartridges for non-porous packs, bottles, sleeves, tins and other smooth production surfaces.
Read more
Water-based cartridges
Water-based cartridges suit porous packing materials where legible batch, date and stock codes matter every day.
Read more
White and coloured inks
High-contrast ink options for dark packaging, coloured substrates and large readable batch or logistics marks.
Read more
Large-character cartridges
Taller print for cases and pallets where small coding gets lost on the line.
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Questions we get asked
Do you sell handheld inkjet coders as well?
No. We supply inks and cartridges for handheld inkjet coders, but we do not sell or repair the coders themselves.
Can you help me choose ink for my packaging surface?
Yes. Tell us what material you are coding on, whether the surface is light or dark, and the type of mark you need. We can help narrow the cartridge choice and flag compatibility points.
Do you deliver outside Durban?
Yes. We work from Pinetown and courier cartridges to factories, packhouses and warehouses across South Africa.
Tell us about the job
Send sizes, materials and where you are through our contact form, and we will come back with the practical options.
Open the contact form