In continuous inkjet (CIJ) printing, the pump is the heart of the ink circuit. Pressure fluctuations cause drop inconsistencies, resulting in printing defects; chemical attack from aggressive solvents degrades performance over time; and unplanned downtime stops an entire production line. Fluid-o-Tech engineers precision inkjet printing pumps that solve all three challenges, delivering stable, pulsation-free flow, full chemical compatibility, and the long service life that OEM equipment manufacturers demand.
Fluid-o-Tech offers different options specifically suited to continuous inkjet and digital printing applications, covering CIJ systems with solvent-based or pigmented ink formulations.
|
Series |
Key specifications |
Best for in CIJ |
|
MG200-300 |
Mag drive | AISI 316L or PPS | PEEK/PTFE gears | max 20 bar | leak-free |
Core CIJ ink supply pump with broad chemical compatibility, consistent drop formation and tight pressure control, built-in speed control, Aggressive solvent-based inks, UV inks, and pigmented white inks requiring enhanced wear resistance. |
|
FG – FS200 – 300 |
Mag drive AISI 316L construction with PEEK gears, leak-free, precise flow accuracy, pulsation-free, repeatable flow, wide speed range, Integrated 24V BLDC pump-motor unit with 500–5000 rpm, IP 52 – IP 65 superior solvent and chemical resistance, |
Core CIJ ink supply pump with broad chemical compatibility, consistent drop formation and tight pressure control, built-in speed control, Aggressive solvent-based inks, UV inks, and pigmented white inks requiring enhanced wear resistance. |
|
MG-FG-FS 400 |
As above for abrasive inks. |
Core CIJ ink supply pump with broad chemical compatibility, consistent drop formation and tight pressure control, built-in speed control, Aggressive solvent-based inks, UV inks, and pigmented white inks requiring enhanced wear resistance. |
Configure your pump
Contact our engineering team or fill in the Technical Information Form with your flow, pressure, and fluid specifications.
Contact us now and propose your project. Fill in our information form to give us all the technical details.
Fluid-o-Tech has been designing precision pumps for industrial inkjet applications for over 40 years. The paints and inks product range covers everything from single-pump analogue CIJ systems to multi-pump digital printing architectures, with a consistent focus on pulsation-free delivery, chemical resistance, and OEM integration flexibility.
• Magnetic drive leak-free by design - All MG and FG-FS series pumps use a fully enclosed magnetic drive. The pump chamber is completely sealed from the motor, eliminating shaft seals and the risk of ink leakage into the machine electronics or onto the substrate. This architecture also means no contact between motor and fluid-side components, contributing to long service life.
• Material selection for aggressive fluids - Pump housings in AISI 316L stainless steel, combined with PEEKgears and bushings, provide resistance to the solvents & ketonescommon in industrial inkjet formulations.
• OEM customization and engineering support - Motor voltage (24V DC standard), port configuration (GAS or NPT), housing material, and gear geometry can be specified to match the integration requirements of each OEM platform. Fluid-o-Tech's engineering team works directly with OEM product designers to validate pump performance with the customer's specific ink formulations before production qualification.
• Quality assurance - Fluid-o-Tech operates under ISO 9001 quality management and IATF 16949 automotive-grade process standards. Every pump undergoes end-of-line functional testing before shipment. Certifications include ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 13485 (medical devices), reflecting the same process rigor applied across the full product range.
Understanding the ink circuit helps OEM engineers specify the correct pump for each function:
1. The Ink Supply Pump pressurises ink from the main reservoir and delivers it to the nozzle.
2. The nozzle uses ultrasonic vibration to break the pressurised ink stream into discrete droplets as it exits the orifice.
3. Droplets pass through a charge electrode tunnel and between deflection electrodes. Each droplet receives a variable deflection voltage charge.
4. Charged droplets are deflected in a predetermined array pattern determined by their voltage, then travel out of the printhead and onto the substrate.
5. Droplets not required for printing are captured by the gutter and recycled back into the main ink reservoir.
The pump specification in the circuit directly determines drop consistency, print quality, and system uptime. A pressure fluctuation of even a few millibar at the nozzle can produce visible printing defects.
OEM engineers specifying pumps for CIJ systems must address four primary performance criteria:
Pressure fluctuations at the printhead cause inconsistent drop formation and visible print defects. Gear pumps with precision-machined components and magnetic drive deliver the low-pulsation flow that CIJ nozzles require, maintaining stable pressure across the full speed range.
CIJ inks include dye-based, pigmented, and solvent-based,which are chemically aggressive. Wetted path materials must resist attack. Fluid-o-Tech pumps are available in AISI 316L stainless steel, with PEEKgears and bushings, covering the full spectrum of CIJ ink chemistries.
Pigmented and white ink handling
Pigmented inks — including white inks widely used in packaging and label printing — carry abrasive particles that accelerate wear in standard configurations. Fluid-o-Tech 400 pump series with hardened material options and tight internal tolerances maintain volumetric efficiency and extend service intervals even with high-pigment formulations.
Long service life and low maintenance
The magnetic drive principle results in a completely sealed pump chamber, delivering a leak-free solution and a significantly extended maintenance-free operating life.
Configure your pump
Contact our engineering team or fill in the Technical Information Form with your flow, pressure, and fluid specifications.
Contact us now and propose your project. Fill in our information form to give us all the technical details.
1. What type of pump is used in continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers?
Most CIJ systems use external gear pumps. Their positive displacement principle delivers a consistent, pulse free, measurable volume of ink per revolution, making it straightforward to control pressure and flow rate electronically. Diaphragm pumps are used in some configurations but require complex pressure damping due to pump pulsations. Gear pumps with magnetic drive are the preferred choice for high-duty-cycle industrial CIJ systems.
2. Why is low pulsation so important in inkjet printing pumps?
In a CIJ system, pressure at the nozzle orifice directly controls the size and velocity of ink droplets. Even minor pressure oscillations — in the range of a few millibars — translate into variation in drop formation, producing visible printing inconsistencies, or character deformation in the printed output. Precision gear pumps with tight internal clearances and magnetic drive minimise pressure ripple and maintain stable nozzle conditions.
3. How do I select a pump for solvent-based inks?
The key selection criteria are wetted path material compatibility and seal type. Solvent-based inks require housings and gears that resist ketones, alcohols, and glycol ethers. AISI 316L stainless steel with PEEK internals covers CIJ ink formulations. The FG/FS200-300-400 integrated pump-motor unit, with its built-in 24V BLDC drive and speed control, is well-suited to CIJ architectures where compact dimensions and independent speed control per circuit are important.
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