Plastics such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and the highly flexible and mouldable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have revolutionised the packaging of many consumer goods, particularly beverages. At the same time they have posed challenges to manufacturers of industrial printing equipment to find high performance solutions for the coding and marking of goods packaged in plastic.
"These challenges have included the delivery of high resolution, indelible codes at production line speeds, the development of environment-friendly inks that are also refrigeration-fast or ice-proof and that can also withstand steam sterilisation and retain the same colour, as well as alkali-soluble inks for applications where the packaging is recycled or re-used," says Ted Michel, divisional manager of Coditech, the variable data coding and marking division of the JSE-listed Square One Solutions Group.
"Consumers are becoming increasingly sensitive to their legislative rights, and there is already draft legislation that will soon make it obligatory for food and beverage manufacturers to print best before dates, batch identification and other variable information on the packaging of their products to enable manufacturers to track their products once they have been packaged and leave the factory."
For the beverage industry, where a vast array of eye-catching PET bottles and containers are being used to hold the products and market them on retailers' shelves, Michel says the major coding and marking challenges have revolved around printer reliability, speed, consistent code quality, installation flexibility and easy operation and maintenance.
Coditech has sole distribution rights in SA for the international Domino range of industrial printers and offers both inkjet and laser printer solutions for coding on PET packaging.
"The solutions range from high-speed 24-hour continuous operation to low volume, short production run applications," says Michel. "There are four inkjet printer options in the Domino A-Series range that will meet the requirements of just about any PET packaging operation, even in the harshest environment. All of them can be installed virtually anywhere on the production line and the small print-head is easy to re-position."
The print-head design and the range of ink formulations provide high resolution, fast-drying and abrasion-resistant codes on PET and the unique sealed nozzle technology ensures clean, dependable start-ups even after extended shutdowns.
Michel says for some manufacturers speed is as important as clear and accurate coding. As a result, technology has moved towards balancing the two with laser marking systems now achieving higher speeds without sacrificing print quality.
"Domino has been able to achieve both of these important end-user requirements with the new DSL1 scribing laser system. Speed now comes with quality and vice-versa and the system gives added value in terms of operational cleanliness and minimal maintenance requirements.
"The DSL1 is also a highly flexible system and can be configured to meet specific end-user requirements. Powered by a sealed CO2 laser, it marks crisp, clear, attractive and permanent codes on PET bottles for secure traceability."
With pending new legislation regarding sell by dates or best before dates and batch codes for tracing, Michel says soft drink manufacturers, wineries and manufacturers of food products that are marketed in PET bottles such as chutneys, will sooner rather than later have to use inkjet or laser coding and marking systems, whichever best suits their particular application.
"They need to be in a position to quickly and accurately track the product back through the manufacturing process and pinpoint the whereabouts of the remainder of that particular product batch so that it can be inspected, and if necessary, recalled in the event of a product problem occurring with retailers or consumers."
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Square One provides integrated IT-based solutions to corporate, retail and government clients through a reseller channel that, in turn, integrates such solutions for end-users. Square One's core business encompasses document handling and information sharing solutions; knowledge management; networking; hardware, software and consumable products distribution; Internet, IT security (biometrics) and e-commerce technologies; data storage; variable data product marking and coding solutions; uninterruptible power supplies; and value-added business services.
Domino Printing Sciences plc, for whom Square One is the sole distributor in SA, is a global leader in the manufacture of coding equipment. Worldwide it has over 3 000 laser and 90 000 inkjet installations on packaging lines. Based in Cambridge, UK, Domino was founded in 1978 and employs around 1 500 people.
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