Welcome to Package This 201 — your guide to packaging machinery and materials, produced by the Emerging Brands Alliance in conjunction with Packaging World PMMI is the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies.
In this episode we will focus on a particular type of packaging equipment: Coding and Marking. These machines are used to print or mark data such as expiration dates, product code, bar codes and batch numbers onto materials like paper, plastics, metals, and glasses.
Coding systems can be crucial to brands when it comes to inventory management, traceability, and safety. As an example, the batch codes on package labels help brands isolate products in case of a problem. Product codes, such as expiration dates on food packages, are also relied upon by consumers every day to ensure they consume the product before it spoils.
Packaging security features and special decorations can also be produced using the technology of marking and coding.
First, let’s dive into inkjet systems. In this non-contact method, machines propel droplets of ink onto the surface material – called the substrate – to mark lot codes, expiration dates, and other information directly on a package at high rates.
There are two types of inkjet coders: large- and small-character systems.
Small-character inkjet coders Can print In areas as small as 1 to 2 millimeters high. The printers can code variable data onto a variety of substrates including products with irregular surfaces and uneven or curved surfaces such as bottles and canned goods. Inkjet printers with small characters are widely used across a wide range of market segments. This clip shows how they’re used in the beverage sector.
Here, Squid Ink’s JetStream system is coding expiration dates on the rounded bottom end of aluminum cans. This technology is called continuous inkjet (CIJ) and it applies a constant stream of ink droplets electrically charged onto the surface. This Squid Ink printer prints up to 5 lines of code at speeds up to 1,000 feet/minute. Squid Ink provides the JetStream with features that automatically start and shut down to maximize uptime in busy facilities.
Large-character inkjet systems When legibility and machine-scannability of the code is a top requirement, such as when shipping and palletizing, these codes are used to create barcodes, product descriptions, and logos.
Let’s look at Squid Ink’s CoPilot Max inkjet system in action. This large-character inkjet system produces characters, texts, logos, and scannable bars codes for cases with 360-dpi using two 2.8″ printheads. CoPilot Max Turbo prints sharply with oil-based or solvent-based UV curable inks on a variety of porous and not-porous materials. This model also features a 4.3-inch, full-color touchscreen, providing operators with easy access to the system’s internal messages and print functions.
The large-character inkjet system can also be used for palletizing and bulk applications. For example, you can print SKUs on pallets and create labels with product weight and information.
Laser Coding Systeme are another type of marking and coding technologies. The non-contact technique uses concentrated beams of light to produce durable and precise markings. Laser coders have similar uses to inkjet technology for coding on glass, metal, or other materials. Some laser systems also allow for the application of codes to flexible packaging material such as labels.
Consider laser when the most important factors are graphic quality and code durability across the entire supply chain.
The image above is Domino’s U510 UV laser application of a code on a white plastic HDPE pill bottle. This laser coder is designed to maintain the protective barrier intact. It creates a reaction photochemical on the topmost layer of packaging material, without causing damage. Its laser pulse is of a very short wavelength with a high absorption rate. This reduces thermal stress as well as soot particle accumulation.
Domino’s system can even safely code very thin, sensitive packaging films, making it a solution for hard-to-mark plastics including sustainable packaging materials like recyclable mono-material films.
Laser technologies are also used to create security features for packaging materials. For example, systems that generate microtext codes onto packages or products in order to prevent counterfeiting.
Thermal Transfer CodingTTO machines, which are also known as thermal transfer overprints, use heat to transfer an image from a ribbon onto the packaging material. This is used for coding flexible materials like plastic films, foils, and papers. TTO machines apply heat to transfer an image to packaging materials to create barcodes, labels and reliable variable information.
TTO is a versatile technology that blurs the line between traditional coding or labeling.
EasyPrint MLP The following is a list of the most recent and relevant articles. BELL-MARK Prints up to 800 millimeters a second on an area up to 8.3 inch. It can print logos, nutritional information and more.
BELLMARK offers an IP67-rated washdown version with features that are hygienic, such as a sealed electric bay and watertight connectors. This model is designed for harsh environments like those in the meat, poultry, and dairy industries. Its HMI touchscreen has label creation software that allows multiple users manage and edit print and monitor files, and log data.
Equipment for embossing and removing debossing You can learn more about it here. Typically used to raise or recess logos of brands, product names or packaging components on aluminum cans and bags. Debossing and embossing help brands to add aesthetic appeal and brand recognition to their packaging.
Finally, Hot and cold stamping machines Use them for marking, decorating and security purposes. Hot stamping uses a heated tool to transfer a thin foil layer onto the material. This creates a metallic foil impression used on high-end specialty boxes and cartons. Cold stamping machines use pressure to transfer an image or hologram pre-printed onto the material. This is used as a graphic enhancer or tamper evident feature.
There are even more types of specialty coding equipment, such as reciprocating coders used in bread bagging and other applications, that we won’t have time to cover here. One thing is certain: coding and Marking Equipment They are essential tools for brands. They are essential tools for brands.
This video should have given you an overview of some of the most common applications and types of technology.
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