Editor’s Note: In 1984, HP introduced the world’s first thermal inkjet printer, and is currently working on its fifth generation of the technology. John Meiling, HP’s senior director of marketing & category management OEM inkjet for specialty printing solutions, discusses the company’s Thermal Inkjet Technology, as well as its potential for 2D barcodes.


Ink World: How long has HP been working on its Thermal Inkjet Technology (TIJ)?

John Meiling: HP introduced the world’s first thermal inkjet printer in 1984, the HP ThinkJet. Over the past 39 years, HP has continued to invest in thermal inkjet technology and is currently on its 4th generation of TIJ technology, which it has implemented across the HP printer portfolio, from Page Wide industrial web press, to large format printers, to home and office printers. HP continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of industrial, business, and consumer customers as we work on our 5th generation of TIJ technology. The Specialty Printing Solutions business unit of HP continues to offer a wide range of enablers, components, inks, and print cartridges, from TIJ 1.0 through TIJ 4.0, to our specialty printer OEM partners for a variety of applications.


Ink World: What are the major uses of TIJ?

John Meiling: HP TIJ is a versatile, high-resolution, high speed printing technology that can address numerous applications across various markets and materials. One of the largest industrial uses of TIJ printing technology is for package coding and marking. Package coding is the printing of expiration dates, lot codes, barcodes, and QR codes for product identification and track & trace, and is required for all consumer packaged goods with a limited shelf-life. Using a package coding solution with embedded HP TIJ, brands can improve uptime and reduce waste, and therefore reduce cost and improve productivity on their package coding and production lines. In addition to enhancing coding and marking solutions, HP partners with specialty printer OEMs to extend the versatility of TIJ technology into a variety of other specialty packaging applications that use variable data, like customized printing on boxes, bags, envelopes, and direct mail, engaging customers on a more personalized and meaningful level.


Ink World: What are 2D barcodes, and what are the advantages of them?

John Meiling: A 2D barcode, also known as a Data Matrix or QR code, is a unique complex pattern of geometric shapes that can be used to encode large amounts of variable data, for which HP TIJ is ideally suited because of the requirement for high resolution printing for high density codes.  The advantage of using 2D codes is that much more data can be encoded in a smaller space than traditional 1D barcodes.

By printing 2D codes on their packaging, brands can improve business performance and financial results because the 2D codes can contain multiple data sets in a single high density code. From an operational perspective, printed 2D codes can enable higher level of track & trace capability throughout the supply chain and distribution channels, for better data analytics, inventory management, and reporting. From a marketing perspective, printed 2D codes on packaging can enhance the customer experience by providing a deeper level of product information and transparency, building greater brand trust and loyalty.


Ink World: How do they (2D barcodes) compare to other technologies, such as the original barcodes?

John Meiling: 1D and 2D codes are a printed solution. Because of their complexity, 2D codes can contain much more data than original simple 1D code using only bars and spaces. 2D codes are synonymous with Data Matrix and QR codes. 

The original 1D barcode has offered the ability to quickly scan basic product numbers rather than manually typing and entering. This basic functionality has existed for decades, but the classic barcode is no longer keeping up with today’s growing demands for greater product information, tracking, traceability, authentication, and transparency. 2D codes are beginning to disrupt the packaging and logistics industry by providing access to more information than 1D barcodes have ever been able to provide. 2D barcodes will allow for a single, standardized way to meet both supply chain needs and evolving consumer information demands.


Ink World: How is TIJ particularly well suited for 2D barcodes?

John Meiling: 2D codes are larger, denser, and more complex than their 1D predecessors for data storage purposes. For 2D applications, precision, high-resolution, and durability for readability are critical. With decades of innovation and leadership in inkjet-based applications, HP TIJ technology produces sharp, high-resolution 2D codes and alphanumeric text across a wide range of substrates at high speeds with an easy-to-use, snap-in and snap-out configuration for minimal servicing and high uptime.


Ink World: When can consumers expect to start seeing use of 2D barcodes?

John Meiling: New global initiatives like GS1’s Sunrise 2027 are driving the transition from 1D barcodes to 2D codes on all consumer goods packaging to be scanned along the supply chain and at the point-of-sale. Each of the 116 participating countries in GS1 will have their own implementation timeline, but the goal is to be using a global standard by 2027. However, many brands, especially in the pharmaceutical industry, have already started to incorporate the use of 2D codes on their product packaging using HP TIJ technology.


Ink World: Is there anything else you would like to add?

John Meiling: As the pioneer of thermal inkjet technology, HP continues to invest and innovate in TIJ to enable companies of all sizes to improve their package coding processes while reducing error and cost, facilitate better track & trace capabilities, and achieve greater efficiency and compliance through emerging standards like GS1 Sunrise 2027. Use of HP TIJ technology for package coding continues to grow worldwide because it is uniquely suited to meet the needs of consumer packaged goods companies now and in the future.