Pinetown base, wider hire reach
Most hires start from Pinetown, with work moving into Durban, Westmead, New Germany and further out to major centres on request. The unit suits short runs, changeable batches and sites where labels do not hold up on rough handling or damp storage.
That range matters because the same coder may be used on carton faces one day and painted steel or treated timber the next. We help match the print height, ink and surface prep to the job so the mark stays readable.
Where handheld coding is commonly arranged
Work changes from area to area, from factory floors to dispatch yards and building supply depots. Coastal sites need attention to humidity and storage, while inland jobs often focus on dust, handling and clear batch traceability.
- Durban for cartons, sacks and wrapped stock
- Pietermaritzburg for timber yards, packaging and mixed lines
- Johannesburg for fast-moving distribution and warehousing
- Cape Town for export packing and varied surface finishes
- Richards Bay for heavier industrial and port-linked work
Print heights, surfaces and ink choices
Handheld inkjet coders are used for date codes, batch numbers, barcodes and logos in a few practical print heights, depending on the unit and the message. On porous stock like cardboard and timber, the ink can bite quickly. On steel, coated surfaces or plastic, the surface type and drying time need a more careful match.
- Quick-dry inks for faster handling on some non-porous surfaces
- Water-based inks for absorbent materials such as cartons and timber
- Solvent inks for surfaces that need stronger adhesion
- Barcode and logo loading where the artwork must stay sharp
How hire terms are usually matched to the job
Weekly hire works well for short production runs, project work and trial batches. Monthly hire suits ongoing coding where the same site needs the unit across repeated dispatches or contract work. If a job shifts between branches or delivery points, the hire plan can be matched to that movement without changing the coding standard mid-run.
We also cover delivery and collection, with backup unit support available where the work cannot pause for a fault. That helps keep the printer moving between packing tables, yard areas and loading bays without extra handling fuss.
Support that travels with the printer
A hire is more useful when the working details are set properly from the start. That is why setup help, message loading, test printing and operator training sit alongside the unit itself. The aim is to get the code on the right surface, in the right place, with the right drying behaviour for the site.
- On-site setup for new operators or changed messages
- Remote setup help where the site is already familiar with the unit
- Troubleshooting support for print quality, alignment and ink flow
- Consumables supply for jobs that run longer than planned
Where our hire units go
Sites in Pinetown, Durban and the nearby industrial areas sit closest to our base, so delivery and swaps are quick. For Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg or Richards Bay, we plan the courier, the surface checks and the marking setup before the unit leaves.
From cartons in a warehouse to pipes on a yard rack, tell us the site, the surface and the mark you need, and the unit is set up to suit before it ships.