BOCHU Automatic Laser Cutting Inkjet System Helps Large Shipbuilding Enterprises Improve Steel Plate Production Efficiency and Production Reliability
40-Head Full-Format Offline Dual-Platform Solution for Highly Reliable Steel Plate Marking and Flexible Configuration
Large Shipbuilding Enterprises Set New Requirements for Automated Steel Plate Marking
A large shipbuilding enterprise in Shanghai, China, has been engaged in large-vessel construction for many years. As shipbuilding advances toward digitalization and intelligent manufacturing, the customer seeks to further improve production efficiency and strengthen the connection of production information across design, production, and assembly.
To ensure accuracy in subsequent production and assembly, each steel plate must carry clear production information, including part numbers, material information, production requirements, and assembly positioning information.
During shipbuilding, steel plates undergo pre-process, marking, cutting, sorting, assembly, and other operations.Marking was previously done via manual marking, handwritten labels, or traditional flame powder marking. The efficiency of manual methods depends on operator experience and shop-floor pace, making it difficult to meet the continuous production requirements of large shipyards. Traditional flame powder marking is better suited to simple line markings and cannot output complex characters, QR codes, and multiple types of production information simultaneously. In addition, when the powder-marking system and the cutting device share the same host, the cutting and unloading cycle may also be affected.
Therefore, customers need more than simply replacing manual marking with machine printing. They need an automated marking solution that improves upstream production efficiency, reduces reliance on manual labor, and accurately transfers part, production, and assembly information to the production site.
BOCHU Automatic Laser Cutting Inkjet System：40-Head Full-Format Offline Dual-Platform Solution
BOCHU Offline Full-Format Dual-Platform Inkjet Marking Machine Solution
For customers' large-size steel plate production scenes, BOCHU provides an offline full-format dual-platform inkjet marking machine solution. The solution uses a modular inkjet printer module design.Printhead combinations can be configured according to each shipyard's plate specifications, production cycle, and line layout, covering applications from half-width to full-width.
For this project, BOCHU provided a configuration consisting of a 40-printhead full-format printing system and a dual-platform layout. The device uses coordinated multi-printhead operation to rapidly mark information across large steel plates.
The device directly outputs part numbers, ship numbers, section information, material information, QR codes, and technique guide lines onto the steel plate surface, enabling production information to be transferred more accurately to subsequent cutting, sorting, and assembly operations.
The core advantage of this solution lies not merely in steel plate marking, but in systematic configuration tailored to shipyard production cycles, plate size, and site conditions. Full-format printing improves marking efficiency, the dual-platform layout supports continuous operation, and the modular inkjet printer modules provide a foundation for adapting to subsequent specifications and expanding the solution.
1. Multiple anti-collision features improve operating reliability in complex environments
During project implementation, customers are particularly concerned about the device's long-term operating stability. For large shipbuilding enterprises, a single unplanned shutdown affects not only the device itself but also the overall production schedule.
During transport, stacking, and production, shipyard steel plates are prone to warping, wave-shaped deformation, or local height variations. Controlling the distance between the printheads of the automated printing machine and the steel plate is critical. If the distance is too small, the printheads may collide and the device may shut down; if it is too large, print clarity may be affected.
To address this issue, the BOCHU inkjet marking machine uses multiple anti-collision features. The device scans the status of the steel plate surface with a laser to detect changes in plate height in advance, then dynamically adjusts the printing distance using automatic height adjustment. In addition, each inkjet printer unit is equipped with an independent Z Axis adjustment mechanism to control height according to plate variations in different areas.Front and rear mechanical anti-collision protection further protects the printheads and core components in abnormal conditions.
By combining plate status sensing, dynamic height adjustment, and mechanical protection, the BOCHU solution helps customers reduce the risk of printhead collisions, minimize device downtime and maintenance time, and improve device utilization in continuous production environments.
Printing height of 20mm above plate surface, greatly mitigating collision risks from uneven plate surfaces
2. High-precision printing and multi-head joint ensure marking quality on large steel plates
When marking large steel plates, the inkjet marking machine must not only print quickly, but also print accurately and clearly. The marking position and content clarity directly affect information recognition efficiency in subsequent cutting, sorting, fitting, and assembly operations.
The BOCHU 40-printhead full-format printing system uses coordinated multi-printhead operation to output information across large steel plates. With printhead stitching control, inkjet printer unit position control, and height follow control, the device achieves stitching precision below 1mm and makes height follow smoother.
This enables part numbers, ship numbers, section information, QR codes, and technique guide lines to be output consistently and clearly onto the steel plate surface. It reduces identification difficulties caused by marking deviations or unclear information and provides a reliable basis for subsequent manufacturing processes.
High-efficiency full-coverage marking, 5–10x productivity boost; complex marks completed in one pass
3. Stable ink circuit and automatic maintenance reduce the risk of printhead clogging and maintenance workload
In addition to anti-collision capability and printing precision, maintenance costs during long-term device use also affect customers' production returns. In continuous shipyard production environments, printhead clogging, ink-path maintenance, and shutdowns for cleaning all affect device utilization.
To address common printhead clogging and complex maintenance issues in inkjet equipment, the BOCHU inkjet marking machine uses a closed-loop dual-negative-pressure cycle ink circuit. This ensures stable ink flow and reduces the impact of bubbles and contaminants on printhead Status. The system also uses constant-temperature control to reduce the effects of ambient temperature changes on the ink and printheads.
When not operating, the device supports automatic cycle maintenance for the printhead ink circuit. It also uses automatic ink pressurization, ink wiping, ink-path heating, and printhead light shielding and moisturizing to reduce the risk of clogging after extended downtime.
These features help customers reduce the frequency of manual maintenance, minimize downtime caused by printhead faults, and enable the device to better meet the requirements of long-term continuous shipyard production.
Automatic ink pressurization, ink suction and wiping, cutting maintenance costs and extending printhead service life
From automated steel plate marking to intelligent manufacturing process optimization
In H1 2026, the large shipbuilding enterprise completed acceptance of the 40-printhead full-format inkjet marking machine project.
Through the application of this project, the customer transformed the steel plate marking process from manual operation to automated operation, reducing manual marking steps and improving upstream production efficiency. Production information can also be output more accurately onto the steel plate surface and transferred to subsequent cutting, sorting, and fitting processes, further improving marking stability and information traceability.
The project also validated its value in large-scale shipbuilding scenes. For large-size steel plates, high-takt production, and complex site conditions, BOCHU provides a reliable automated steel plate marking solution through its offline full-format dual-platform solution, multiple anti-collision features, high-precision printing, and stable ink-path system.
Based on project experience, BOCHU has further developed its solution configuration capabilities for the production requirements of different shipyards. Relying on modular inkjet printer modules, electrical control, and standard design, BOCHU can provide flexible configuration solutions from half-format to full-format according to each shipyard's plate specifications, production cycle, and line layout. The project also provides more shipbuilding enterprises with an automated inkjet marking solution that can be referenced and deployed.
