How much does it cost to produce each qualified code for TIJ Printing?

When purchasing TIJ ink cartridges, price is usually the first number buyers compare.

Many procurement managers and factory owners fall into a common trap: judging cost purely by the upfront price of a single cartridge.

The more useful question is not “How much does one TIJ Ink cartridge cost?” but “How much does it cost to produce each qualified code?”

1. The Basic Formula

Cost per qualified code = Total printing cost ÷ Number of qualified codes

The important point is that the denominator should be the number of qualified codes.

If a production line print 100,000 codes but 2,000 codes are rejected because of missing characters or other quality issues, the real calculation should be based on 98,000 qualified codes.

2. Ink Consumption: Print Coverage, Resolution and Message Size Matter

A. Print Coverage & Message Size

The same TIJ ink cartridge can produce very different numbers of codes depending on what you print.

A short production date requires much less ink than a large logo, QR code, barcode, or multi-line variable-data message.

B. Resolution & Grey Level

Resolution also matters. Higher resolution generally means more dots are used to form the printed image, which can increase ink consumption.

Grey Level also affects TIJ ink consumption. A higher Grey Level may use more ink, so the same print content can result in different ink consumption and cost per qualified code.

This is why TIJ ink cartridge yield should always be compared under the same resolution, print height, message content, and print coverage etc.

A yield number without these conditions may not tell you much about the actual cost of your application.

3. Not Every Printed Code Becomes a Qualified Code

The code still may be rejected because of poor contrast, smearing, missing dots, incorrect positioning or other quality problems.

Common causes include:

Incorrect ink selection for the substrate

Poor nozzle condition

Incorrect print distance or installation

Insufficient drying time

Excessive print speed

Dust or contamination on the printing surface

When rejected products and reprinting are included, the actual cost per qualified code becomes higher.

4. Cost Per Code Matters More Than Cost Per Cartridge

A. Bigger Capacity, Lower Cost per Code

A 42ml TIJ Ink cartridge may cost less than a 145ml TIJ Ink cartridge. However, if the larger cartridge produces significantly more codes, the higher purchase price may result in a lower cost per code.

B. More Ink Can Mean Fewer Cartridge Changes

A smaller TIJ Ink cartridge may have a lower purchase price, but it may need to be replaced more frequently. Each replacement takes operator time and may require the production line to stop or slow down.

A larger ink capacity can extend the printing interval and reduce the number of cartridge changes required during production.

5. Final Calculation: The Real Cost of a TIJ Ink Cartridge

Total Coding Cost = Consumables + Cartridge Changes + Cleaning + Downtime + Quality Loss

The exact calculation depends on the application, but the principle remains the same: compare the cost of producing codes, not simply the cost of buying cartridges.

Need help choosing the right TIJ Ink Cartridge?

Contact GORGEOUS for a suitable TIJ ink solution.