Reviewed: 7 September 2026

Houseware and kitchenware products come in many materials, shapes and surface finishes. A coding method that works on an uncoated carton may not perform the same way on coated plastic, painted metal, glass, ceramic, wood, silicone or rubber. For this reason, the printer and ink should be selected only after testing the customer's actual sample.

What can be printed?

Depending on the print area, material and suitable ink, thermal inkjet (TIJ) systems may be used for batch numbers, manufacturing dates, product codes, barcodes, QR codes, logos and other variable information.

Material and surface considerations

• Paper and carton: Porous, uncoated areas are generally easier to print. Laminated, waxed or heavily coated cartons require testing.
• PP, PE and HDPE plastics: Adhesion varies according to resin, coating and surface treatment. Sample testing is essential.
• Metal: Bare, painted, anodised or oily surfaces behave differently. Cleanliness and curing time affect results.
• Glass and ceramic: Smooth or glazed surfaces require the appropriate ink and an adhesion test.
• Wood: Absorption and print sharpness vary with grain, paint, varnish and moisture.
• Silicone and rubber: These can be difficult substrates and must be evaluated individually.

Important: Not every ink can print reliably on every surface. Oil, dust, moisture, coating, curvature, printing distance and the operating environment can affect adhesion, drying and readability.

Choose a safe print zone

For kitchenware or products that may contact food, printing on the outer packaging or another non-food-contact area is generally the more practical starting point. Customers must independently verify whether the selected ink, print location and finished application meet their own safety, regulatory and buyer requirements. PTS can provide the product information and available supporting documents we hold, but does not make a regulatory or food-contact approval guarantee.

Handheld and inline options

For mixed products, low-volume work or large items, the BENTSAI 6205BL handheld printer offers a 12.7 mm print height. For larger text and codes, the BENTSAI 6210BL handheld printer provides up to 25.4 mm print height. For repeat production on a controlled line, view our industrial inline TIJ printers.

Recommended sample-test workflow

1. Provide the actual product or packaging sample.
2. Confirm the required content, size, location and production speed.
3. Test the proposed ink and printer on the real print area.
4. Allow the print to dry under the intended operating conditions.
5. Evaluate adhesion, rub resistance, readability and barcode or QR scanning according to the customer's own acceptance criteria.

TIJ printers are cartridge-based and generally require less routine servicing than many traditional coding systems, but they are not maintenance-free. Correct cartridge storage, nozzle care, printer alignment and normal cleaning are still important.

PTS Technology Sdn Bhd is the exclusive authorised distributor for BENTSAI handheld inkjet printers in Malaysia. The exclusive scope refers specifically to handheld printers.

Explore our Coding & Marking Solutions by Application, including manufacturing parts and components and carton and secondary packaging.

Contact PTS Technology on WhatsApp to arrange a test using your actual houseware, kitchenware or packaging sample.