What are Custom Made printers and how do they work?

Custom Made IMAGO printers are individually designed devices – from customer requirements analysis, through technology selection and prototyping, to implementation and service support. Unlike standard catalog printers, which have predetermined parameters (table size, ink technology, print area), Custom Made adapts each element to the specifics of your product and process. All our Custom Made systems are based on Drop-on-Demand (DOD) piezoelectric technology, in which the print heads eject microscopic ink droplets with great precision, up to tens of thousands of times per second. This allows us to carry out projects on a wide range of materials: glass, metal, aluminum, wood, plastics (PP, PE, ABS, PS, PMMA, PC), flexible film, cardboard, ceramics, and even food products (chocolate, baked goods).
Custom Made IMAGO goes through the following process: Discovery → Proof Lab (testing on your material) → design and prototyping → FAT/SAT (acceptance tests) → implementation and training. You don’t buy a “pig in a poke” – before making a decision, you see concrete results on your samples.

What device formats do we offer?

• Flatbed (table printers) – printing on flat surfaces with precise positioning; ideal for small and medium series, tests, proof-of-concept. Customization options: non-standard table dimensions (from several dozen cm² to several m²), additional axes (automatically adjustable Z, rotary axis), vision systems (positioning relative to relief), robotics (feeding/receiving parts), surface activation (plasma, corona, flame).
• Single Pass (in the production line) – printing during production; the product moves at a constant pace under a stationary head bar without stopping the line. Full integration with conveyors, feeders, and MES/ERP systems – printing of variable data (batch numbers, QR codes, campaign versions) without downtime. Technologies: UV-LED (plastics, glass, metals), solvent (films), food (printing on food).
• Specialized systems – hybrid devices (belt transport + Z adjustment), roll-to-roll printers, tracking systems (the printing module moves with the material – ideal for pipes, profiles), laboratory solutions (inkjet process observation, formulation testing), clean room (medicine, pharmacy) .
• Additional modules: vision systems (quality control, automatic inspection), robotics (arms for manipulating elements), surface activation (for difficult PP/PE materials), MES/ERP integration (full communication with production systems), clean room (medical/pharmaceutical standards), deionization systems (for electrostatic materials).

Ink technologies – a full spectrum of possibilities

Unlike standard printers, which support a single ink technology, Custom Made IMAGO implements projects using a full spectrum of formulations – selecting the technology that is optimal for your material, application, and print durability requirements.

UV-LED – ink cured instantly by ultraviolet light; creates a durable layer resistant to abrasion, chemicals, and UV radiation.

Applications: plastics (PP, PE, ABS, PS, PMMA, PC), glass (flasks, premium bottles – flat areas), metals (aluminum, steel – panels, housings), building materials (ceramic tiles, HPL/MDF panels), wood and laminates (furniture, packaging).

Industries: FMCG, cosmetics, household appliances, electronics, industrial components.

Solvent – solvent-based ink; high outdoor resistance, flexibility, adhesion to difficult surfaces.

Applications: flexible films, packaging materials, industrial labels, outdoor advertising.

Industries: bulk packaging, flexible materials, signage.

Water-based ink (aqua) – environmentally friendly, safe, ideal for porous materials.

Applications: paper, cardboard, packaging materials.

Industries: cardboard packaging, labels, eco-friendly printing.

Food – edible ink for printing directly on food.

Applications: chocolate (fatty material + edible water-based ink – world-class technology developed by IMAGO R&D), baked goods (cookies, cakes, gingerbread), fruit (apples, citrus fruits – premium personalization).

Industries: confectionery, bakery, fresh food, premium catering.

Functional (specialized) – non-standard formulations developed at INKnovation Lab. Silver nanoparticles (conductive printing – printed electronics, document security), invisible inks (security, coinage, valuable documents), dedicated formulations (adhesion to extremely difficult surfaces, resistance to extreme temperatures, specific regulatory requirements).

With Custom Made, you are not limited by the catalog – if your application requires a specialized formulation, INKnovation Lab will develop a dedicated ink with adhesion, durability, and reproduction quality tests. We work with ink manufacturers, giving us access to the latest formulations on the market.

R&D department and laboratories – the heart of IMAGO innovation

Since 2013, IMAGO’s Research and Development department has been focusing on creating dedicated digital printing systems for industry. A team of engineers with expertise in mechanics, automation, programming, fluid engineering, and ink chemistry – all fluent in English – carry out custom-made projects from needs analysis to the launch of finished systems at the customer’s site.

Proof Lab – a testing laboratory for customer materials. Print tests on samples (up to 50 pieces), adhesion tests (tape test, cross-hatch), resistance tests (abrasion, chemicals, UV, temperature, humidity), color calibration (RAL, PANTONE, ΔE ≤ 2). Report with recommendations: ink technology, pre-treatment, process parameters.

INKnovation Lab

Ink formulation laboratory. Development of dedicated inks for specific customer materials, durability/adhesion/reproduction quality tests, cooperation with ink manufacturers (access to the latest formulations), compliance testing (indirect/direct contact with food, medical/pharmaceutical requirements).

Certificates and awards confirm quality:

✓ ISO 9001:2015 certificate (2023) – guarantee of process repeatability

✓ 3 Gold Medals at the Marketing Festival (2022) – technological innovation

✓ Product of the Year 2023 (Vulpes plotter) – recognition from the food industry IMAGO not only supplies machines – it creates technologies that do not exist on the market. Since 2013, we have been developing know-how that allows us to design and manufacture custom-made devices regardless of ink technology, device format, or application specifics.

Anodized aluminum printing technology

Development of ink formulations and process parameters for printing resistant to extreme abrasion and chemicals.

Application: industrial nameplates, permanent markings in the automotive industry, household appliance components. Resistance exceeding industrial standards.

Conductive printing with silver nanoparticles

Development of functional systems based on ink with silver nanoparticles.

Application: printed electronics (antennas, sensors, circuits), document security (conductive elements that cannot be copied), coinage (NFC/RFID integration). Precision dosing and process repeatability at an industrial level.

Food printing on chocolate

Proprietary technology for printing on fatty materials (chocolate) with edible water-based ink. World-class technology, confirmed by key customers: “The chocolate printing technology developed by IMAGO is a world-class solution… the print quality is the highest on the market.”

Application: confectionery industry, premium catering, personalization of food products.

Vision systems and positioning

Integration of digital printing with vision systems and software for precise positioning of the print relative to the product relief.

Application: coinage (printing on coins/medals, taking into account convexities), document security, components with ready-made relief. Positioning accuracy ±0.1 mm.

From discovery to implementation

Working with IMAGO is a transparent process in which each stage is clearly defined—from the initial meeting to the launch of serial production and long-term support.

1. Discovery—analysis of requirements (2–5 days)

• Meeting with the IMAGO team: process engineer, ink specialist, project manager. Product analysis: material, dimensions, surface specifications (surface energy, porosity, treatment), required print quality (resolution, resistance, color calibration).
• Determination of parameters: production cycle (for Single Pass), print area, production volume, integration with existing line/MES/ERP systems.
• Verification of technical feasibility and preliminary cost estimate (CAPEX + estimated TCO).

2. Proof Lab – tests and trials (5–10 business days)

• Print trials on customer material (up to 50 samples) – various ink technologies, process parameters, pre-treatment (if required).
• Adhesion tests (tape test, cross-hatch), resistance tests (Taber/Crockmeter abrasion, chemicals – alcohol/detergents/acids, UV, temperature, humidity), color calibration (RAL, PANTONE, ΔE). The test report includes: photos of samples, adhesion/resistance measurement results, recommended ink technology, recommendations for pre-treatment (plasma/corona/flame), process parameters (UV power, number of passes).
• Design decisions based on facts, not assumptions.

3. Design and prototyping (4–12 weeks, depending on complexity)

• Mechanical design (frame construction, transport system, height adjustments), electrical design (power supply, controllers, sensors), control software (HMI in Polish, material presets, integration with MES/ERP – if required).
• Component selection: print heads (Epson Precision Core / Xaar / others – depending on the application), ink pumps, UV lamps (for UV-LED), transport systems (conveyors, feeders, positioning systems).
• Prototype + functional tests at IMAGO (performance, repeatability, process stability).
• FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) – acceptance at the manufacturer’s premises with full technical documentation.

4. Implementation and commissioning (1–3 weeks)

• Delivery, mechanical/electrical installation, integration with the customer’s production line (for Single Pass) or standalone installation (for flatbed).
• SAT (Site Acceptance Test) – acceptance at the customer’s site according to the criteria agreed upon in the Discovery phase.
• Training of operators (HMI operation, ink replacement, daily maintenance, alarm response) and maintenance/UR department (diagnostics, maintenance, advanced adjustments).
• SLA service package (response time, spare parts availability, service visits), technical documentation (operating instructions, electrical diagrams, spare parts lists), material presets (parameter library for tested materials).

5. Support and development – long-term partnership

• Local technical support (Warsaw, Lublin, Gliwice, Bydgoszcz) – telephone, e-mail, remote support, service visits.
• Access to INKnovation Lab – testing of new materials (when the customer introduces new products/SKUs), optimization of process parameters (reduction of ink consumption, increase in speed), development of new formulations (when requirements change).
• Possibility of modernization and expansion of the device – adding modules (vision systems, robotics, surface activation), software upgrades, increasing the print area/performance.
• Predictability at every stage – from Discovery to go-live.
• No surprises, no hidden costs.

Why IMAGO? Local production and partner philosophy

Design and production in Poland – full quality control, short response times, flexibility in design modifications. Unlike international corporations with rigid catalogs, IMAGO, as a Polish manufacturer, adapts to individual customer requirements – from the first meeting to years of service support. Offices and service in Poland: Warsaw (headquarters, R&D, Proof Lab, INKnovation Lab), Lublin (sales office), Gliwice (service), Bydgoszcz (service). Technical support in Polish – no communication barriers, quick response to requests, local spare parts warehouses. Average service response time: <24 hours (phone/remote support), <48 hours (on-site visit). “Operator-first” philosophy: HMI interfaces in Polish – intuitive, no technical jargon; material presets – the operator selects a profile from the library, the system automatically sets the parameters (no manual calibration required); automatic basing and monitoring – the system itself controls the height of the detail, ink level, UV lamp power, temperature/humidity; training for operators and the UR department – practical, tailored to the participants’ level of knowledge, with materials in Polish.

Long-term partnership

IMAGO is not a machine seller, but a design partner that grows alongside the customer’s business. Comprehensive support: from Discovery, through Proof Lab and implementation, to servicing and future upgrades. The possibility of expanding devices with new modules (when the process changes, when new requirements arise). Access to the latest ink and printhead technologies (cooperation with Epson, ink manufacturers, technology partners). SLA packages – predictability of operating costs (TCO), minimization of downtime, maintenance budgeting for years to come. Experience confirmed by customers: “The Aquila Aluminium device is currently the best solution on the market for the production of indestructible plates” – industrial customer. “The chocolate printing technology developed by IMAGO is a world-class solution… the print quality is the highest on the market” – customer from the food industry.

IMAGO Custom Made = tailor-made technology + local support + long-term partnership. You are not buying a machine – you are gaining a partner who solves your technological problems.