A printing device includes a body. A printing cartridge is engageable with the body. The printing cartridge has a housing. An actuator formation is positioned on the housing and represents data relating to a characteristic of the printing cartridge. A printing mechanism is positioned in the body. The device includes a processor for controlling operation of the printing mechanism. An array of capacitive sensors is positioned in the body and is configured so that predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors in the sensor array, when actuated, generate signals carrying data related to the characteristic of the printing cartridge. Such predetermined combinations of capacitive sensors are actuable by the actuator formation positioned on the housing of the printing cartridge when the printing cartridge is engaged with the body so that the array of capacitive sensors generates a signal carrying said data relating to the characteristic of the printing cartridge.