IACS Introduces the Compact InkDock™
The Belgian inkjet specialist is adding a smaller version of its recirculating ink supply system, for production lines where space is tight and easy integration is mandatory.
Belgian industrial inkjet specialist IACS is adding a compact version to its InkDock™ range of recirculating ink supply systems. It offers the same modularity and industrial reliability as the standard unit in a much smaller housing, while allowing it to sit independently from the print head. The compact InkDock™ is available to order now, with first deliveries in the first quarter of 2027.
Fitting inkjet into a crowded line
Industrial inkjet rarely gets a clean, empty space to work in. It has to fit into existing lines, next to conveyors, robots and packaging machines, often with only centimetres to spare, and every application asks for something different. For integrators, that is the challenge: an ink system small enough to fit anywhere and flexible enough to work with whatever head type, printing width and printing direction the application requires.
About InkDock™
IACS (Industrial Inkjet Integration & Consultancy Services) was founded in 2008 by Erwin Kempeneers, former R&D director at Barco Graphics. Based in Eke near Ghent, it began as a consultancy, helping manufacturers bring inkjet into their production environments, and launched InkDock™ in 2020 as a modular, plug-and-play ink recirculation system. More than 500 units have shipped worldwide, with about 95% of installations delivered through system integrators and machine builders, in markets including pallets, cargo control straps, vaccine labelling, secondary packaging and bank cards.
The compact InkDock™
The compact version uses the same recirculation principle as the standard unit. Ink moves continuously through the print head, holding meniscus pressure, temperature and flow rate stable, which IACS says gives consistent jetting and minimal downtime.
The unit itself measures just 255 x 200 x 100 mm (length x height x width). Including the 100 mm main ink supply, the total length is 355 mm, up to 315 mm shorter than a three-head standard InkDock™. It works with any head with an ink reflow architecture, such as the RISO CF1 and CF3 families and the Ricoh MH3820; the number of heads and the printing width depend on the head type chosen. It handles UV and oil-based inks at viscosities from 5 to 25 mPa·s and temperatures up to 60 °C.
Head outside the unit
The print head always sits outside the unit, an idea IACS already offered on a larger InkDock™. IACS says this lets the head go exactly where the product passes while the ink unit sits wherever there is room, and lets the integrator choose the head that suits the job. Horizontal, vertical or downward printing becomes a matter of mounting rather than redesign.
“The ink system should adapt to the application, not the other way around,” says Jasmine Geerinckx, co-owner of IACS. “InkDock™ is a proven concept, and with the release of the compact InkDock™, we now add enormous flexibility on top of it. Integrators have more control over their setup and can easily respond to whatever their own customers ask for.”
Built to integrate, built to operate continuously
For integrators, it is plug-and-play. It runs on 24 V DC, connects via standard TCP/IP and uses a client-server architecture, so it fits easily into factory networks and production control systems. Print fluid is refilled automatically from a separate tank, and startup takes from under a minute up to about 20 minutes, depending on the required ink temperature.
For operators, it is simple. Many production lines run 24/7 with staff who are not inkjet specialists, change often and do not always share a common language. The InkDock™ software therefore uses an icon-based, language-independent interface with colour-coded status indicators, so operators can see ink levels, temperatures and alarms at a glance. Remote diagnostics allow integrators to support their customers without stopping the line.
Where to meet IACS
IACS will be showing InkDock™ at PACK EXPO International at McCormick Place in Chicago, from 18 to 21 October.
IACS will be at PACK EXPO International, McCormick Place, Chicago, from 18 to 21 October. InkDock™ can be seen in action at the booth of one of our partners. Would you like to meet us, see InkDock™ running or discuss your application? Contact us at info@iacs.be or +32 499 268 977 to arrange a meeting.
Geerinckx and Kempeneers will present a session on ink recirculation systems at IPI (Industrial Print Integration) in Neuss, near Düsseldorf, on 24 and 25 November. IACS also confirmed to be at the FuturePrint event in Munich on 11 and 12 May 2027.
