What Kortho Coding & Marking does

Kortho Coding & Marking is a 100% Dutch family-owned industrial manufacturer, founded in 1926 in Amsterdam and producing coding and marking equipment from its Katwijk headquarters since 1958. The company offers a broad technology portfolio spanning Thermal Transfer Overprinters (TTO), Thermal Inkjet (TIJ), Hi-Res Piezo Inkjet, Solid Hot Ink (Hot Quickcoder), Hotfoil printers, mechanical Rollcoders and Handcoders, stencilling systems, and distributed U Mark industrial markers—backed by proprietary technologies including the SMARTFORCE ribbon tension system, FREEFLOW open capillary ink system, and Robocap automated nozzle maintenance system. Architecturally, Kortho printers are Windows-based industrial computers with attached printheads, allowing free centralized control via the Kortho Control Center and certified NiceLabel Platinum/Enterprise driver integration with ERP systems from SAP, Microsoft, and others.

The company sells primarily through a global distributor network of more than 50 countries, complemented by wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, France, the Dutch Antilles, and Chile, and direct sales from Katwijk. Revenue is generated from hardware sales, recurring consumables (ribbons, inks including mineral-oil-free MOSH/MOAH variants, solid hot ink rolls), and software/services including NiceLabel (~1,000 EUR perpetual license). Kortho serves named enterprise customers across food and beverage (Nestlé, Heinz, Unilever, FrieslandCampina, Heemskerk Fresh & Easy), automotive (BMW, Volkswagen, Bosch, Ford, Renault), and electronics (Philips), with primary verticals in food and beverage and automotive and secondary positions in logistics, floriculture, industrial manufacturing, wood and building materials, and construction.

The business model is best characterized as a niche, technology-led industrial OEM that competes against larger coding and marking players (Domino, Markem-Imaje, Videojet) on durability, low total cost of ownership, Windows-native ERP interoperability, and a maintenance-free product proposition rather than on scale or price. With 51–100 employees and no external funding, Kortho is a bootstrapped, family-controlled mid-market specialist that reinvests in product development (2023 launches of Ti-12 TIJ and TT-Series SILVER edition) and international expansion while maintaining a stock-based delivery model enabled by high vertical integration.

Name

Kortho Coding & Marking

Legal name

Kortho Coding & Marking

Website

https://kortho.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kortho Coding & Marking is a 100% Dutch family-owned manufacturer (founded 1926, manufacturing since 1958) of industrial coding and marking equipment—including TTO, TIJ, Hi-Res Inkjet, and Hotfoil printers—serving food and beverage, automotive, logistics, floriculture, and industrial manufacturing customers in more than 50 countries via subsidiaries and a global distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Coding and Marking Equipment

NAICS

Printing Ink Manufacturing (325910)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE), Direct-to-Container & Digital Printing (Inkjet/Laser) (IMALAKAF)

Keywords

• Industrial coding equipment
• Thermal transfer overprint
• Thermal inkjet printers
• High-resolution inkjet coding
• Industrial marking printers

Headquarters

HQ city

Katwijk Aan Zee

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Kortho generates revenue primarily from selling coding and marking equipment including Thermal Transfer printers (TTO), Thermal Inkjet printers (TIJ), Hi-Res Inkjet printers, Hotfoil printers, Solid Hot Ink printers, Rollcoders, Industrial Markers, Stencilling products, and related accessories. They manufacture in the Netherlands and deliver directly from stock.
2. Consumables: Kortho sells consumable materials including ribbons (wax, wax-resin, resin), inks (oil-based, solvent-based, UV-curable, mineral oil-free GJ9 MOSH/MOAH), hot solid ink rolls, stencil inks, and markers. They deliver consumables directly from stock with no lead times.
3. Software and Integration Services: Revenue from Nicelabel label management software (sold as Platinum/Enterprise partner) and from providing integrated coding solutions including software integration and customization. Kortho Control Center software is provided for free, while Nicelabel software costs approximately 1,000 euro.
4. Custom Solution Configuration: Kortho configures both hardware and software to meet specific coding needs, providing tailor-made solutions delivered from stock. By their modular way of working, customers no longer need multiple suppliers and get custom solutions with the speed, price, and stability of standard products from stock.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kortho Coding & Marking develops and manufactures industrial coding and marking equipment, including Thermal Transfer Overprint (TTO), Thermal Inkjet (TIJ), Hi-Res Piezo Inkjet, Hotfoil, Solid Hot Ink, and 100% mechanical Rollcoder/Handcoder printers. Equipment is built as Windows-based industrial computers and ships with proprietary technologies (SMARTFORCE, FREEFLOW, Robocap) plus NiceLabel-compatible drivers, consumables (ribbons, inks, hot ink rolls), and label-management software for enterprise production lines in food & beverage, automotive, and other industrial sectors.

Product overview

Kortho Coding & Marking is a Dutch family-owned manufacturer (since 1958) offering a comprehensive portfolio of coding and marking solutions. The product range spans multiple printing technologies: Thermal Transfer Overprint (TTO) printers including the TT-Series with SMARTFORCE technology and QiC i/c-Series intermittent and continuous thermal printers; Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) with the Ti-Series featuring patented Robocap maintenance-free technology; Hi-Res Inkjet printers under the GraphicJet brand with FREEFLOW ink systems; Solid Hot Ink (Hot Quickcoder) and Hotfoil (Hotprinter M-40/80/150) contact coders; and 100% mechanical Rollcoder and Handcoder systems. Software offerings include the free Kortho Control Center (KCC) for centralized printer management and Nicelabel partnership for label design. Optional hardware includes the Printerface IoT controller. The portfolio covers all production stages (primary, secondary, tertiary) and supports various materials including cardboard, paper, metal, glass, synthetics, wood, and fibers. Key differentiators include SLIMLINE concept (open Windows-based printers reducing equipment costs up to 50%), 1800m ribbon capacity, maintenance-free FREEFLOW ink systems, and complete Industry 4.0/IoT integration capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GraphicJet: Hi-Res Inkjet printer product line including X18 and X72 models.
• TT-Series
• Ti-Series
• QiC Series
• Kortho Control Center (KCC)
• Printerface IoT
• Hot Quickcoder
• Hotprinter
• Rolcoder
• U-Mark Markers
• Stencilling

Products and services

• Kortho TT-Series Thermal Transfer (TTO) Printers Thermal Transfer Overprint (TTO) printers using Kortho's proprietary SMARTFORCE technology for electronic regulation of ribbon tension and real-time electronic actuation of the printhead onto the substrate. Available in TT-53 and TT-107 models with print areas of 53 mm and 107 mm. Designed for enterprise packaging lines needing scratch-proof coding on flexible packaging at high speeds.
• Kortho QiC i-Series Intermittent Thermal Printers Intermittent thermal transfer printers using compressed air instead of stepper motors for simplicity and reliability. Available in 30i, 53i, and 107i models with print areas from 30 mm to 107 mm width. Features a TFT touchscreen, 300 DPI resolution, and NiceLabel Windows driver compatibility.
• Kortho QiC c-Series Continuous Thermal Printers Continuous thermal transfer printers for continuous packaging lines, with 53 x 200 mm print area, speeds up to 27 metres per minute, and compressed air operation for simplicity and reliability.
• Kortho Ti-Series Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) Printers Thermal Inkjet (TIJ) printers with patented Robocap automated nozzle maintenance system and exclusive POLYtij polymer-resin ink. Marketed as zero-clog, zero-maintenance TIJ printers for high-resolution coding on porous and non-porous substrates.
• Kortho GraphicJet X72 Hi-Res Inkjet Printer Piezo inkjet printer with 72 mm print height, Seiko 510BN printhead, 180 DPI resolution, and FREEFLOW open non-pressurized ink system. Compatible with mineral oil-free MOSH/MOAH inks for food safety.
• Kortho GraphicJet X18 Hi-Res Inkjet Printer High-resolution inkjet printer with 18 mm print height, Xaar 128 printhead, 185 DPI resolution, and FREEFLOW capillary ink system. Prints up to 40 meters per minute with omnidirectional printing at 180 degrees.
• Kortho Hot Quickcoder Solid Hot Ink (wax) printer with 12 x 24 mm print area, speeds up to 250 PPM, budget-priced, completely maintenance-free, and extremely reliable. Used worldwide in automotive industry for DOT marking and visual quality checks.
• Kortho Hotprinter M-40 Hotfoil printer with 20 x 40 mm print area, printing speeds up to 500 PPM. Entry-level model designed for high-speed small prints such as best-before dates using number/date wheels.
• Kortho Hotprinter M-80 Hotfoil printer with 50 x 80 mm print area, speeds up to 300 PPM. Best-selling Hotprinter model, used for scratch-proof, durable prints on difficult surfaces where TTO cannot be used.
• Kortho Hotprinter M-150 Hotfoil printer with the largest 100 x 150 mm print area, speeds up to 180 PPM. Features template with date/number-wheel capability, sharp scratch-proof prints, and maintenance-free operation.
• Kortho Inline Rollcoders 100% mechanical inline coding systems with 3 print area options (23 x 315 mm, 53 x 315 mm, 98 x 315 mm). No electric or compressed air required; extremely robust and reliable for challenging environments.
• Kortho Handcoders 100% mechanical portable printer for challenging environments, with a standard 55 x 315 mm print area. Works without electricity or compressed air, ideal for wet, dusty, or dirty conditions.
• Kortho Stencilling Products Manual stenciling products including cutting machines, oilboard and Mylar templates, Rol-It-On and Oneshot ink applicators. Very low purchase price, works without electricity or compressed air.
• U Mark Industrial Markers European distribution of American U Mark markers, including M5, AP-1, A3, A10, A20, A30, Dr. Mark, Metalhead, and Paint To Go. Broad assortment for porous and non-porous surfaces in automotive, construction, and metal industries, with various ink, wax, paint, and pigment types.
• Kortho Printerface IoT Controller Universal touchscreen controller for all Kortho printers, running Windows 10 OS, capable of controlling multiple printers (including mixed models) from a single unit. Optional under the SLIMLINE concept as an alternative to using existing PC/tablet infrastructure.
• Leibinger CIJ (Continuous Inkjet) Printers Distributed continuous inkjet printer line including Leibinger IQ JET, Jet3 UP/PI/PRO, Jet2 NEO, and Jet RAPID for continuous inkjet coding applications.
• Kortho Solid Hot Inks (Consumables) Wax-based inks for mechanical stamping machines, used with the Hot Quickcoder and other solid ink systems. Bond to any surface through heating and solidification, suitable for porous and non-porous materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• Save up to 50% on equipment costs through SLIMLINE concept (using existing infrastructure instead of buying dedicated controllers)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NiceLabelcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2013Kortho is a fully certified NiceLabel Platinum and Enterprise partner, achieving the highest in-house knowledge level for NiceLabel software and its application. Kortho developed its own printer driver with 100% NiceLabel compliance. NiceLabel is the world's leading developer of Windows drivers for thermal label, color label, and direct marking printers. NiceLabel is also a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, Oracle Gold Partner, and SAP partner. The partnership enables Kortho printers to be controlled from any Windows software or ERP system.
• U MarkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKortho is the European distributor for the American U Mark brand. U Mark distinguishes itself by offering a specifically developed range of markers to meet particular marking needs. U Mark products are prominent in the American automotive, construction, and metal industries. Kortho distributes U Mark markers throughout Europe.
• Digital Ink Technologies (Australia)coreTechnology or IntegrationKortho's Ti-Series TIJ printers exclusively use POLYtij ink manufactured by Digital Ink Technologies in Australia. This ink uses polymer resins for adhesion instead of solvents for absorption, providing 200%+ higher adhesion than any other TIJ ink while instantly drying on non-porous substrates.
• CremerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCremer CPT300 packaging machine is mentioned in connection with Kortho's TT-Series TTO printer for flower industry applications. The three products (flower bulbs, Cremer packaging machine, and Kortho TT-Series) are shown together as examples of Dutch manufacturing excellence in the flower industry.
• Loftware NiceLabelcoreTechnology or IntegrationKortho printers are 100% Loftware NiceLabel compatible. Real-time printing from multiple ERP databases is supported through ODBC and Loftware NiceLabel integration. This partnership enables Kortho to offer enterprise-grade label management solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Loftware (NiceLabel): Provider of the NiceLabel label management software platform with which Kortho holds Platinum/Enterprise partnership status. Adjacent/ecosystem player rather than direct competitor; comparable in the sense that both serve the same enterprise label design and printing workflow customers.

Direct peers

• Markem-Imaje: US/France-based coding and marking subsidiary of Dover Corporation. Offers CIJ, TIJ, TTO, and laser marking solutions with global service infrastructure that directly competes with Kortho's portfolio in consumer goods and industrial packaging.
• Squid Ink Manufacturing: US-based manufacturer of CIJ and high-resolution inkjet printing systems for product coding and marking. Comparable product portfolio to Kortho's GraphicJet and Ti-Series, focused on packaging, lumber, and industrial marking.
• Domino Printing Sciences: UK-based global leader in industrial coding and marking (CIJ, TIJ, TTO, laser). Direct competitor across all of Kortho's product categories including thermal transfer, thermal inkjet, and high-resolution inkjet printers serving F&B, automotive, and industrial customers.
• Matthews Marking Systems: US-based manufacturer of industrial marking and coding equipment including inkjet, laser, and drop-on-demand systems. Direct peer across Kortho's TTO, TIJ, and Hi-Res Inkjet lines in packaging, metal, and durable goods marking.
• KGK Jet: Japan-based manufacturer of continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers and high-resolution inkjet marking systems. Comparable in technology portfolio to Kortho's GraphicJet and Ti-Series, with strong APAC automotive and electronics customer base.
• Linx Printing Technologies: UK-based manufacturer of continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers, part of ITW. Directly overlaps with Kortho's Hot Quickcoder and inkjet product lines in F&B, cosmetics, automotive, and industrial marking applications.
• Videojet Technologies: US-based subsidiary of Danaher and one of the largest global coding/marking equipment manufacturers. Competes directly with Kortho's TIJ, TTO, and laser coding products across packaging, food/beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial verticals.
• REA JET: Germany-based manufacturer of industrial coding and marking systems including CIJ, TIJ, and large-character inkjet printers. Closely comparable German-headquartered peer serving European automotive, packaging, and metalworking markets.

Broad incumbents

• Hitachi Industrial (Coding/Marking): Hitachi's industrial inkjet printer division (formerly Hitachi Industrial) offers high-resolution inkjet printers and integrated marking solutions. Broad incumbent with global reach competing with Kortho in industrial and packaging applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/kortho
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korthofah-bv
• Facebookfacebook.com/Kortho.thermal.print.inkjet.print

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Kortho Coding & Marking