TIJ stands for thermal inkjet, and the term is generally used in India to describe cartridge-based printers built specifically for small-character, high-resolution coding on primary packaging - things like cartons, sachets and labels where the printed text needs to stay legible even at a very small size.

The natural comparison buyers make is against continuous inkjet, or CIJ, which uses a recirculating ink system and generally suits higher-speed, heavier-duty lines. TIJ tends to win out where upfront cost and simplicity matter more than raw speed, since there is no pump, no air compressor, and far less routine upkeep involved.

Cost of ownership is where the real decision usually gets made. A TIJ printer's ongoing expense is largely the cartridge itself, which is straightforward to budget for, compared with a CIJ system's mix of ink, makeup fluid and periodic servicing that can be harder to predict month to month for a smaller operation.

Across India, this makes TIJ a common choice for small and mid-sized packers who want dependable, good-looking print quality without taking on a machine that needs a dedicated maintenance routine - a fair trade-off for businesses that are not running extremely high-speed lines to begin with.

Before deciding between TIJ and an alternative, it is worth running both on your actual product if a supplier can arrange it, since the right answer really depends on your line speed, your substrate, and how much daily maintenance your team is realistically able to take on.