Single Pass Printer Guide: High-Speed Digital Inkjet for Packaging

Single Pass Printer Guide: High-Speed Digital Inkjet for Packaging

A single pass printer is a digital inkjet printing system that prints an entire image in one pass of the media under a fixed printhead array, eliminating the need for scanning motion. This technology enables production speeds of 10 to 80 meters per minute depending on the configuration and ink type, making it a core solution for high-volume packaging, label, and industrial printing. Shanghai Focus Industrial Co., Ltd. (FocusInc), established in 2008, is a global provider of industrial digital printing solutions that specializes in single pass technology for sustainable packaging and industrial applications.

The Problem with Traditional Printing for Short-Run and Variable-Data Jobs

Traditional offset and flexographic printing require physical plates, long setup times, and high minimum order quantities, making them inefficient for short-run, personalized, or just-in-time production. Printers and packaging converters face pressure to reduce waste, lower inventory, and respond to rapidly changing brand designs. A single pass printer solves these challenges by eliminating plate-making, enabling instant job switching, and supporting 100% variable data printing without slowing down production.

Industry Background: Digital Printing in Packaging

According to Zion Market Research, the global digital printing for packaging market was valued at USD 31.64 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 75.55 billion by 2032. Inkjet digital printers accounted for the largest segment share of 42.5% in the digital printer market as of 2025 (Straits Research). In China, more than 88 billion square meters of corrugated board were produced in 2024, driving strong demand for high-speed single pass printing solutions (China Packaging Federation). FocusInc, certified as a national high-tech enterprise since 2022, has achieved significant breakthroughs in industrial-grade single pass intelligent digital inkjet technologies and now produces 800 units annually from a 35,000 m² factory.

FocusInc Single Pass Printer Solutions

FocusInc offers a comprehensive matrix of single pass printers spanning water-based and UV ink systems, covering applications from paper bags and corrugated boxes to labels, non-woven bags, PVC panels, and book edges. Key series include:

• Cobra Series – Water-based single pass printers for packaging and corrugated board. Models include Cobra-691S (max 210–420 mm width, 10–40 m/min), Cobra-1209S (max 1220 mm width, 10–35 m/min), Cobra-1815S (max 1800 mm width, 10–35 m/min), and Cobra-691S Max (max 645 mm width, 20–40 m/min).
• Falcon Series – Desktop single pass printers for paper bags, pizza boxes, and envelopes. Falcon-491S (210 mm width, 10–25 m/min) and Falcon-491S Pro (210/300 mm, 10–17 m/min, with automatic feeder).
• Viper Series – Roll-to-roll single pass label printers using HP PageWide thermal bubble technology. Viper-391S (A4/A3, 10–40 m/min, up to 1200×2200 dpi) and Viper-391S Pro.
• S350 Jetpress – UV single pass roll-to-roll printer for IML and label applications. Uses 10–15 EPSON S3200 printheads, 20–80 m/min, 235 mm print width.
• Acaleph-891S Series – Industrial UV single pass printers for panels, non-woven bags, PVC sheets, and side printing. Available in economic (e), industrial (i), and side printer versions. Print speeds 10–40 m/min, widths up to 500 mm.

All FocusInc single pass printers feature a print beam of high-strength extruded aluminum alloy and a main machine frame of thickened welded carbon steel for stability and precision.

How a Single Pass Printing Line Works

1. Material Feeding – Sheets or rolls are automatically loaded via friction feeder, vacuum feeder, or unwinder with tension control and deviation correction.
2. Media Transport – The media moves on a high-precision vacuum adsorption conveyor belt that prevents slipping and warping.
3. One-Pass Inkjet Printing – As the media passes under the stationary printhead array, all colors (CMYK, plus white and varnish if equipped) are jetted simultaneously in a single pass. Resolutions from 600×600 dpi up to 1200×2200 dpi are supported.
4. Ink Curing – Water-based inks are absorbed naturally; UV inks are instantly cured by LED UV lamps (405 nm) with water cooling for high-speed inline curing.
5. Output Collection – Finished prints are automatically stacked, rewound, or conveyed to downstream processes (die-cutting, slitting, lamination).

Key Use Cases Across Industries

• Corrugated & Honeycomb Board – Large-format single pass printers (Cobra-1209S, Cobra-1815S) print directly on 3-ply to 5-ply boards for e-commerce and logistics packaging, eliminating pre-printed stock.
• Paper Bags & Food Packaging – Desktop single pass printers (Falcon-491S Pro) handle kraft paper bags, coffee bags, pizza boxes, and paper cups with edible or water-based inks, meeting food safety requirements.
• Labels & Stickers – Roll-to-roll single pass label printers (Viper-391S, S350 Jetpress) produce self-adhesive labels, BOPP films, and in-mold labels with variable data and barcodes at high speed.
• Non-Woven Bags & Fabric Bags – UV single pass printers (Acaleph-891S series) with plasma pretreatment and deviation correction enable mass production of colored logo shopping bags.
• PVC Decorative Panels & Skirting – Industrial UV single pass systems print wood-grain and stone patterns on rigid PVC boards for interior decoration.
• Book Edges – Specialized jigs allow single pass printers to print full-color designs on book and notebook edges for personalized and on-demand publishing.

Comparison of FocusInc Single Pass Printer Models

Frequently Asked Questions

For distributors and packaging converters evaluating high-speed digital inkjet solutions, FocusInc provides complete single pass systems from desktop to industrial scale, backed by in-house engineering and global support. Download the company profile and factory brochure to learn more.

Download FocusInc Factory Brochure