AstroNova launches compact A3 direct-to-package printer

AstroNova has launched the AstroJet AJ-200, a compact A3-wide digital inkjet printer engineered for direct-to-package printing on flat materials.

The tabletop system prints directly on ink-absorbent materials, including cardboard, stand-up pouches, envelopes, coasters and other rigid to semi-flexible substrates, eliminating the need for separate labels, sleeves or pre-printed stock while reducing material use, inventory requirements and packaging waste.

'AstroNova's goal is to enable sustainable printing for small and big brands that care as much about the planet as their packaging,' Padraig Finn, senior vice president of AstroNova Product Identification, noted.

The AJ-200 delivers print speeds up to 27 m/min, resolution up to 1,200 DPI and supports feed widths up to 13.5 inches. The printer uses aqueous pigmented inks optimized for UV resistance, water fastness and scratch durability, ensuring adhesion and image quality on both coated and uncoated substrates.

Manufactured at AstroNova's Chicago facility, the complete system integrates an automatic feeder, registration table and catch tray to enable fast, unattended printing. A built-in touchscreen interface allows users to monitor status, adjust settings and manage print jobs stored locally or from a connected computer.

The AJ-200 outputs up to 6,500 A4 or letter-size sheets per hour and handles media up to 13.5 inches wide and 0.5 inches thick. The feeder capacity accommodates up to 16 inches of stacked media.

Target applications include restaurants, breweries and retailers printing paper bags and boxes, promotional teams creating coasters and pouches for seasonal campaigns, direct mailers producing postcards and envelopes with variable data, and chemical and industrial manufacturers applying regulatory labeling directly to packaging.