What Matthews Marking Systems does

Matthews Marking Systems, founded in 1850 and headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, is an industrial marking and coding solutions provider operating as a subsidiary of Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ: MATW). The company designs and manufactures a comprehensive portfolio of industrial printing systems spanning drop-on-demand valvejet (V-Series), thermal inkjet (L-Series), piezo inkjet (T-Series), small-character XIJ (Axian AX1000), CO2/UV/fiber laser marking, and automated print-and-apply labeling (A-Series), all unified under the MPERIA universal automation platform that controls both Matthews and third-party hardware via a single interface, common API, and XML-based data routing. Integrated ERP, WMS, MES, and PLC connectivity (Allen Bradley, Siemens, Modbus, Ethernet/IP) allows deployment without middleware, supported by in-house engineered ink formulations and durable printheads rated for over 9 billion firings.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining capital equipment sales, recurring consumables (inks and replacement fluids), OEM licensing/embedded controller sales to machine builders, and post-sale service contracts. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales with solution engineers for consultative demos, a global channel partner network served by a dedicated portal (Highspot), and four regional headquarters covering the Americas, EMEA, Nordics, and APAC. Customers are predominantly mid-to-large industrial manufacturers across Food & Beverage, Metal Manufacturing, Wood & Lumber, CPG, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, and Building Materials, with documented deployments at named enterprises including Mt. Olive Pickle, Sierra Aluminum, Clas Ohlson, EstiFrame (Simpson Strong-Tie), and Tiroler Rohre.

Name

Matthews Marking Systems

Legal name

Matthews Marking Systems

Website

https://matthewsmarking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1850

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Matthews Marking Systems is a subsidiary of Matthews International Corporation that designs and manufactures industrial inkjet, laser, and labeling equipment unified by its MPERIA automation platform, serving mid-to-large manufacturers across Food & Beverage, Metal, Wood, CPG, Automotive, and Pharmaceutical verticals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Marking and Coding Equipment

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Equipment (Labelers, Inkjet, Laser) (IMALAOAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Industrial marking systems
• Inkjet printers
• Laser marking equipment
• Product coding automation
• Packaging labeling machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Industrial Printing Equipment Sales: Sale of industrial marking and coding equipment including DOD inkjet printers, thermal inkjet printers, piezo inkjet printers, laser marking systems, and automated labelers. Revenue generated from initial equipment purchase across MPERIA platform product lines.
2. Ink and Consumables: Proprietary inks, replacement fluids, and consumables. Standard 2-day delivery on stocked replacement fluids. Revenue from ongoing consumable purchases as equipment requires ink replenishment.
3. OEM Solutions: OEM controller integration for equipment manufacturers embedding marking technology into their production lines. Custom-engineered solutions for specific manufacturing requirements.
4. Service and Support: Technical support, onsite service, repair depot services, preventive maintenance contracts, and customer training. Revenue from service contracts and per-incident support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Matthews Marking Systems designs, manufactures, and services industrial marking and coding equipment, including DOD, thermal, and piezo inkjet printers, CO2, UV, and fiber laser marking systems, and automated labeling machines. All products are unified under the proprietary MPERIA universal automation platform, which controls third-party equipment alongside Matthews hardware. The company also produces proprietary industrial inks engineered in-house and supplies consumables, service, and engineered solutions to manufacturers and OEMs worldwide.

Product overview

Matthews Marking Systems is a platform-plus-modules industrial printing company, operating under Matthews International Corporation, that offers a unified MPERIA® automation platform as the central control layer across its portfolio of specialized marking and coding hardware. The product lineup spans multiple inkjet technologies — V-Series drop-on-demand (DOD) valvejet printers, L-Series thermal inkjet (TIJ) printers (L50, L25, L12, L1), T-Series piezo inkjet printers (T50E, T100E, T100SE), and the Axian AX1000 (XIJ) small-character inkjet — plus MPERIA® A-Series automated labeling machines (D43, T43, T63), MPERIA® laser marking systems (CO2, UV, and Fiber at various wattages), and supporting components including 8000+ valve printheads, V-Link modules, ink supply systems, and a full ink portfolio. The MPERIA OEM controller enables equipment manufacturers to embed the platform into their own machines. All hardware is managed through MPERIA® controllers (8", 12", 12" Enclosed, 15" H.E.) offering a single interface, common API, and XML support for controlling multiple print technologies and integrating with ERP, WMS, MES, and PLCs. Engineered Solutions provides custom integration and software services for one-off requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPERIA: Universal marking and coding automation platform that controls various printing technologies and third-party equipment from a single interface.
• VIAjet
• Axian XIJ

Products and services

• MPERIA Controller Platform
• V-Series DOD Inkjet Printers Drop-on-Demand (DOD) industrial inkjet printers for high-speed product and case coding, controlled by MPERIA. Designed for harsh-environment applications including lumber, building materials, and metal marking, featuring a printhead rated for over 9 billion firings.
• L-Series Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Printers Thermal inkjet printers for high-resolution industrial product coding, controlled by MPERIA, suited for secondary packaging, cartons, and cases.
• T-Series Piezo Inkjet Printers Piezoelectric inkjet printers for industrial coding, controlled by MPERIA, delivering high-quality text, graphics, and barcodes on a range of substrates.
• Axian AX1000 Piezo Inkjet Printer Axian AX1000 high-resolution piezo inkjet printer (XIJ) for direct marking on porous and rough surfaces such as wood, OSB, and lumber, and other industrial substrates.
• CT1000 Thermal Inkjet Printer CT1000 high-speed dual-lane thermal inkjet printer for industrial product coding, controlled by MPERIA, suitable for high-throughput production lines.
• CO2, UV, and Fiber Laser Marking Systems Industrial laser marking systems (CO2, UV, and fiber) for permanent coding and marking on a wide range of substrates, controlled by MPERIA.
• A-Series Automated Labeling Machines Automated industrial labeling machines that apply labels to products and packaging on production lines, integrated and controlled by MPERIA.
• MPERIA OEM Controller OEM-branded version of the MPERIA controller that allows original equipment manufacturers to embed Matthews' marking/coding control technology inside their own machines, providing a unified user experience across product lines.
• Matthews Industrial Inks Proprietary industrial inks engineered in-house by Matthews for use with its inkjet printers and laser marking systems, formulated for adhesion and contrast on a range of substrates.
• Engineered Solutions Custom-engineered marking and coding solutions, providing tailored integration of Matthews' hardware, software, and ink products to address unique customer production line requirements.
• Service and Support Installation, training, maintenance, and ongoing technical support services for Matthews marking and coding equipment, delivered globally through regional offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% efficiency improvement for Sierra Aluminum in aluminum marking operations
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ID Technology (ProMach): A ProMach-owned provider of labeling, coding, and marking solutions, including print-and-apply labelers that directly overlap with Matthews' A-Series automated labeling machines.
• Domino Printing Sciences: A global manufacturer of industrial coding and marking equipment (CIJ, laser, TIJ, print-and-apply) with a comparable product portfolio, including consumables inks. It is the most direct competitor to Matthews in industrial inkjet coding across CPG, F&B, and industrial verticals.
• Markem-Imaje: Owned by Dover Corporation, Markem-Imaje is one of the largest industrial coding and marking solutions providers, offering CIJ, laser, TIJ, and labeling systems. It competes head-to-head with Matthews in the same enterprise sales motion and verticals.
• Videojet Technologies: A Danaher-owned global supplier of industrial coding solutions (CIJ, laser, TIJ, DOD, thermal transfer) plus consumables. Direct overlap with Matthews in CPG, F&B, pharma, and industrial marking applications.
• Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems: Manufactures industrial inkjet printers (CIJ) under the Hitachi brand for product coding and marking. Competes directly with Matthews in F&B, CPG, and automotive marking applications, particularly in APAC.
• Diagraph (ITW): An Illinois Tool Works company offering industrial inkjet printers, laser coders, and labeling equipment. Overlaps with Matthews' V-Series and A-Series offerings in primary and secondary packaging marking.

Emerging players

• EBS Ink-Jet Systems: A Poland-based manufacturer of industrial inkjet printing systems (CIJ and DOD) for industrial coding and marking. Direct competitor in DOD valvejet technology with comparable rugged-environment applications.
• Squid Ink Manufacturing: A US-based manufacturer of industrial inkjet printing equipment (CIJ, DOD, TIJ) targeting secondary packaging and product marking. Smaller in scale but competes with Matthews in mid-market CPG and industrial accounts.

Broad incumbents

• KEYENCE: A large Japanese automation and industrial sensor/marking company whose industrial laser markers and code readers compete with Matthews' laser and vision/barcode verification offerings as part of a broader industrial automation portfolio.
• Avery Dennison: A global leader in labeling materials and RFID solutions. While primarily a label substrate provider, it competes in adjacent traceability and identification solutions (including RFID) that could substitute for inkjet/laser marking in the long term.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/matthews-marking-systems
• Xx.com/MatthewsMarking

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Matthews Marking Systems