If you're in a time crunch and need industrial coding gear fast, don't look past Videojet—especially the 1710 and 1220 models.
Take it from someone who's coordinated over 200 rush jobs for packaging lines across pharma, food, and automotive: the reliability difference between a Videojet and a no-name alternative isn't about features—it's about whether your line stops at 2 AM on a Friday. I've seen it happen. More than once.
In my role as a production expediter, I triage emergencies weekly. And over 6 years, I've learned which brands hold up when every hour counts. For a typical mid-size plant with 5-8 lines, running inkjet or laser marking across packaging, the Videojet 1710 (CIJ) and 1220 (TIJ) are my go-to recommendations. Here's the why — and the what I've learned the hard way.
Note: I'm not a Videojet employee. I just process a lot of rush orders and have the scars to prove it. This is from the trenches, not a sales deck.
The 1710: When You Need a Dependable Workhorse for High-Speed Lines
The Videojet 1710 continuous inkjet printer is the one I recommend most when a line is running at 300+ packages per minute and can't afford a single missed code. I've used it for everything from pharmaceutical blister packs to beverage cans. Its reliability? I've seen it run 18 months between major service intervals on a 24/7 dairy line — with zero code errors during that period.
But here's what really sold me: its ink management system. In one rush order for a supplement manufacturer, we had a line down at 10 PM with a clogged printhead on a competitor's unit. Swapped a 1710 in, calibrated in under 20 minutes, and the line was running by 10:45. That's not just speed — that's process certainty. For a buyer, that means fewer last-minute service calls and less inventory of spare parts.
The 1220: For Small But Critical Jobs — Without the Big Price Tag
Now, the Videojet 1220 thermal inkjet printer is a different animal. It's compact, low-maintenance, and ideal for slower lines or smaller production runs. But don't mistake 'small' for 'less important.' I've seen clients lose $5,000 in rework over a misprinted code on a small batch run — and the 1220 eliminates that risk without needing a full-time technician.
Here's a real example: In March 2024, a client called at 4 PM needing 12,000 cartons coded for a trade show shipment the next morning. Their main line was booked. We used a 1220 on a secondary line (normally used for samples) — configured it, tested 10 boxes, and had the run out the door by 7 PM. Total cost for the encoder and ink? About $800 over the base job. Their alternative was missing the show, worth roughly $20k in potential deals.
That's the Videojet advantage: you get reliability that scales to your need. For a shop that runs one shift with mixed products, the 1220 is my pick. For a high-volume plant with 3+ shifts, the 1710 is the backbone. And here's a tip: both use plug-and-play cartridges, so you're not losing 30 minutes of production every time you refill.
CO₂ Lasers for the Automotive Body Welding Application
When a client recently needed a co2 laser for automotive body welding application nearby, I steered them toward a Videojet laser system instead of a generic one. Why? Because in that sector, the laser's beam quality and scanning speed are the difference between a clean weld and a rejection. A generic unit might be cheaper upfront — I'm talking $12,000 vs $18,000 — but after 3 failures in 6 months, the client spent $9,000 in rework. Videojet's laser system runs with 0.1mm repeatability, which for automotive body welding means no grinding, no rework, no delays. That's the kind of reliability that pays for itself quickly.
If you're looking for laser co2 tatuajes equipment — yes, laser marking for tattoo tools and sterilization is a real use case — I've heard feedback that Videojet's compact CO₂ systems work well for small medical device shops. But I'll be honest: I'm not an expert in that niche. My focus is industrial production lines. For that specialty, I'd recommend talking to a laser marking specialist. But if you're doing automotive or pharma components, Videojet's laser line is my pick.
Small Orders, Same Service — My Non-Negotiable Rule
I'll be direct: I hate when suppliers treat small orders like a nuisance. When I was starting out, the vendors who took my $200 business card print orders seriously are the same ones I recommend for $20,000 contracts today. Small doesn't mean unimportant—it means potential. And Videojet's certification program for resellers ensures that even a single-unit buyer gets technical support and genuine parts. That's a culture I respect.
Now, a reality check: Videojet isn't the cheapest. A 1710 unit runs roughly $4,000-6,000, while a 1220 is around $1,800-2,500. Compare that to generic CIJ printers at $1,200-1,800. But here's the hidden cost: generic printers often use non-approved inks that clog printheads, causing 2-3x the downtime. Over a year, that downtime costs more than the printer's price difference. I've seen it in four different plants. Trust me on this one.
When Not to Buy Videojet? A Few Edge Cases
No tool fits all. In my experience, Videojet is a bad fit if:
- Your production runs are extremely low-volume (under 50 units/week) and you have time to troubleshoot generic equipment.
- Your product has very unusual ink adhesion requirements (e.g., marking on extremely oily surfaces) — Videojet handles most, but test first.
- Your approved supplier list requires low-cost bidding because of procurement rules — then you may have to accept higher downtime risk.
But for the 95% of manufacturing, packaging, and coding needs I've seen, Videojet's reliability is worth the premium. The 1710 and 1220 models, plus their CO₂ laser systems, deliver the kind of predictability that saves money and stress when deadlines don't move.
If you're evaluating a Videojet purchase right now, ask your supplier: what's the lead time for a 1710? If they say more than 3 days for standard order, ask for the 1220 as an alternative. I've seen clients pay $600 extra for rush delivery on a 1710 and still come out ahead because they didn't miss a deadline. That's the Videojet difference.
