Diagraph's Blog

Overcoming the daily challenges of pigmented ink printing

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 15:11:00 GMT

Overcoming the daily challenges of pigmented ink printing

Using pigmented ink in printers, especially ‘white ink’, often presents daily challenges compared to standard dye-based ink printers that result in more downtime. These challenges often include more frequent servicing and daily cleaning.

But why?

Because pigment isn't naturally soluble in the solvent, there is often:

Reduced contrast
Blocked filters, pipes and nozzles
Broken pumps and valves
Settling and clumping leading to poor print

Using pigmented ink offers some benefits as well.

Dyes filter light and make the ink darker while pigments reflect light and make the ink lighter. This makes pigmented inks perfect for dark substrates like cables, pipes, bottles, electronic chips and automotive parts, which often tend to be black or darker in color.

The extremely high color fastness of pigmented inks ensure the color is retained for a long period of time. Pigmented inks also offer very high adhesion.

Certain design features of a pigmented ink printer can minimize the challenges and ensure high print quality. A key area to consider when selecting a printer is whether the printer limits pigment settling.

Features to look for include the following:

Emptying and flushing of pipes and filters: If the pipes are properly cleared when not in use, it eliminates the risk of ink and sediment settling in the pipes and causing a blockage.
Does the printer:
- Empty feed lines and pipes on shutdown? Emptying the filter on shutdown prevents sedimentation into the filter while the printer is not in use.
- Flush the gutter pipes during starts and stops?
- Tolerate some ink and sediment settling?

Adaptive solvent usage: Choosing a printer that has advanced adaptive solvent usage ensures the ink is always at the correct thickness for maximum opacity while ensuring the ink isn’t too thick and at risk of clogging. Look for a machine that automatically adds more solvent if the ink is thick and adds less if the ink is thin.
Enhanced filtration: The quality of filtration is critical to ensure any particles are picked up and filtered out before reaching the print head. The better the filtration technology, the lower the risk of blockages.
Sediment mixing and holiday shutdowns: Can the pigmented ink printer easily redisperse the settled pigment on startup after holiday shutdown periods without the need to flush the printer? Look for a coder where the sediment is continuously mixed within the ink so that the ink opacity stays strong and no sedimentation occurs.
Ease of use: Consider the ease of use of the machine, the ease and speed of message creation and the message options to suit your individual coding need. Look for a printer with easy user interface, intuitive touchscreen and a range of different message options.

INTRODUCING THE LINX 8940 SPECTRUM

The revolutionary Linx 8940 Spectrum pigmented ink printer has been designed with patent-pending technology to ensure it includes all the above critical features for maximum reliability when marking with white inks, resulting in longer service intervals, less cleaning and more uptime.

The Linx 8940 Spectrum makes traditionally cumbersome hard-pigmented marking simpler and more reliable. The problems typically faced with pigmented inks from alternative printer suppliers or from our previous generation have been tackled and addressed with the innovative and market-leading Linx 8940 Spectrum printer.

With the Linx 8940 Spectrum, printing highly visible codes for dark glass or plastic bottles, wires, cables and extruded products with reliability and without daily maintenance has never been more achievable.

Achieve Consistent And Unmatched Print Quality With Superior Print Head Design

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 21:19:00 GMT

Achieving optimal print quality with small character continuous inkjet printing (CIJ) is a constant endeavor for manufacturers. CIJ printers must be able to deliver precise drop placement at the correct speed. These two elements are significantly impacted by the print head design and fluid management. Read below to understand how the Linx 8900 Series CIJ offers the reliability and quality customers demand.

The Linx sealed print head design simply runs cleaner than other CIJ printers. The Linx 8900 Series CIJ printer boasts a unique sealed print head design, setting it apart from its CIJ counterparts. Hermetically sealed and solid-state components combined with a true nozzle-through-gutter autoflush at both start up and shut down enables Linx printers to go 100 starts and stops without needing to clean the print head.
The Linx 8900 also measures ink viscosity in the print head. This sets it apart from other CIJ systems that place viscometers in their fluid tanks. A series of sensors in the print head allows the printer to make real-time adjustments to pressure, optimizing the ink speed to ensure precise drop placement. Solvent additions to the ink mixture are introduced only when there has been an increase in pressure over a set amount of time. This process means Linx printers exhibit less solvent consumption than our competitors.

If you need to enhance print quality while managing operational costs, the Linx 8900 Series CIJ printer offers a compelling solution. For further insights into improving your printing capabilities and cost-effectiveness, connect with us today and discover how Linx small character continuous inkjet printing emphasizes high-quality printing, lower operating costs and precision, performance and efficiency.

Is training production line workers creating a challenge? No problem!

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 20:41:00 GMT

Companies rely on engineers or technicians to keep production lines up and running. Because these job functions are essential to hitting production targets, it is critically important that their skill level on equipment is proficient. The amount of time and money that will have to be invested in training production line workers should be a major deciding factor when deciding to replace product identification equipment.

Many manufacturers apply variable information such as lot, batch and expiration dates on their products with continuous inkjet (CIJ) technology for the following reasons:

Relatively low capital costs
Capability to print in any orientation on most materials at high speeds
Ability to install one or two CIJ printers on each packaging production line

The Linx 8900 series offered by Diagraph offers an additional benefit: minimal need for line operators to learn new procedures when the units are introduced to the production line.

Linx 8900 Service Features

Traditionally, CIJ printers require the attention of skilled labor to keep printers clean (which is critical to operation) or to tweak print quality at the print head level. The industry leading Linx 8900 series printers can be operated and maintained with minimal touches due to the following features:

A sealed print head design with no moving [parts that allows 100 starts and stops without cleaning—no need to tweak nozzles or gutters to maintain operation or print quality

An intuitive user interface that is easy to understand and use. With a 10” capacitive color touchscreen, the user interface is icon-driven, similar to a smartphone interface. Onscreen prompts guide the user through common actions taken on the system.

A customizable carousel on the main screen puts critical actions such as message editing right at the fingertips of the labor on your line.

Self-service design made possible by replacing an Easi-Change module. This simple action can be completed by anyone on the production line—no skilled labor required. Changing the module takes less than 30 minutes and can be completed with the printer still on the production line.

The Help feature in the user interface gives Operator Manual instructions for routine maintenance procedures or troubleshooting.

If you are considering replacing existing CIJ equipment and need it to operate with minimal intervention and training, the simple operation and maintenance of the Linx 8900 series printer makes it the right piece of equipment for you.

Managing end-of-line coding needs while facing rising costs and tighter budgets

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:36:14 GMT

There is no escaping the fact that nearly everything, including energy, raw materials and labor, is increasing in price. That is why it is critical to consider the total cost of ownership (TCO) when purchasing a new coding solution. Purchasing a lower cost coding solution that has high hidden costs will result in a higher TCO down the line.

Let’s take a car purchase for example. The initial purchase is not the end of your costs. Fuel and/or electricity, road tax, servicing and unexpected breakdowns, maintenance, insurance, and roadside assistance are all additional costs that will be incurred.

The same is true for industrial printers. The machine price is not the only consideration. So, how can you work out your TCO over a printer’s lifetime to get the best value? Diagraph’s TCO calculators can show your TCO costs for continuous inkjet (CIJ) or laser coder. Contact us and let us crunch the numbers so you can make the best choice.

You can help reduce your TCO for industrial printers

There are ways you can save costs when purchasing new coding equipment. If you are thinking about a CIJ system, consider the following:
⦁   Does the model you are considering have long service intervals and self-service as an option?
⦁   Is the user-interface intuitive?
⦁   How much training is needed
⦁   Do the required training and maintenance minimize human error and keep costly rework to an absolute minimum?

Don’t forget about consumables. Our fast-drying 1240 ink for CIJ coders will support 40% of all applications, meaning less stock control for you. Plus, the innovative upside-down ink cartridge design ensures you’ll use every drop.

In contrast, laser coders use no ink or solvents. The robust design and tube life also gives Linx coders longevity, boosting output efficiency while keeping costs down. If have high production volumes or using a coder that consumes high volumes of ink, a laser coder could be an excellent option for you to consider.

Critical Ways CIJ Printers Are The Right Technology For Your Small Character Application

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 13:59:07 GMT

Manufacturers often require small variable information such as expiration dates and lot and batch codes to be printed on their products. Continuous inkjet printing (CIJ) continues to be the technology of choice for these applications. As there are several technologies capable of printing small characters, one may ask "why CIJ?”. Speed and throw distance are two essential reasons CIJ is the right technology for your application.

SPEED

A coding system that does not keep up with your production line speeds will hinder your production output. Thermal Inkjet printing can print up to 250 fpm. Piezo high -esolution printing can print up to 200 fpm. Linx 8900 Series CIJ prints 3 lines of print at more than 450 fpm and can exceed 1400 fpm with a single line of print. Make sure your printer meets or exceeds your productivity demands.

THROW DISTANCE

A significant contributor to legible print quality is the distance between an inkjet printer and the product. Product shape, material handling and available real estate on a production line dictates the print head to product distance. Thermal inkjet requires a smooth surface with little vibration and print head placement within 8mm (0.3 inches) from the target product for best print. Piezo print heads have the same printing requirements with 10mm (0.4 inches) maximum distance. Since CIJ characters are formed in a dot matrix style, the overall print height expands the further away it is from the target allowing for 12mm (0.5 inches) to 50mm (2 inches) throw distance. Because CIJ has longer ink throw, it easily prints on smooth, curved and irregular surfaces from a greater distance.

Ink for CIJ Printers

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:08:52 GMT

Ink for CIJ Printers

Diagraph offers the 1088 Yellow Bottling Pigmented Ink for the Linx 89xx Series printers designed for use in harsh manufacturing environments.

This content was submitted directly to this website by the supplier.

From - Diagraph, An ITW Company

June 2nd, 2021

New accessories are also available for use with the printers, cover tube seal, splash cover, and specialty air knife kit, each designed to help food manufacturers with humid environments meet production requirements.

Many food producers face additional challenges in complying with coding requirements when their production environment has high humidity or when condensation is present and/or builds up on cold fill packaging. The presence of moisture is problematic for coding quality and can negatively impact coding equipment performance.

Michelle Chamberlain, Diagraph Product Manager, said, “The Linx 89xx Series printers, with their stainless-steel construction and IP55/IP65 protection ratings, are designed to operate reliably in tough industrial environments. When application conditions go beyond normal humidity or when condensation builds up, the engineered Linx 89xx offered by Diagraph keeps production on target. The new pigmented ink and accessories are designed to make it easier for our customers to meet their production requirements.”

The Linx 1088 Yellow Bottling Pigmented ink, from coding and marking solutions manufacturer Diagraph, provides contrast on dark substrates and is designed for adherence onto wet, slick substrates. The ink can be removed with a light caustic wash for returnable glass bottle applications. Other Linx inks include the Linx black wet process or bottling inks which are used when it is critical for marks to remain stable through tough freeze/thaw, cold room or cold fill coding applications.

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Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

Tue, 11 May 2021 15:46:28 GMT

Products containing animal milk are on a constant time clock. Cows must be milked every day, meaning it is possible for dairy operations to be running 24/7 to get products with an under 20-day expiration period out the door and onto shelves. In these fast-paced manufacturing environments for fluid milk, cheese, yogurt, butter and ice cream products, there are several factors that impact the method and features required for achieving legible marks and labels onto packaging.

DOWNTIME

With perishability of dairy products, there is great urgency for products containing milk to make it to grocers’ shelves with the right product identification. Without proper codes, products won’t even be allowed to ship. Any delay could have health risks for consumers and potential negative financial impact for the manufacturer.

Look for non-contact coders with features focused on maintaining maximum uptime such as:

Self-servicing: For example, Linx 8900 Series continuous inkjet coders can be serviced on the line using the Easi Change Service Module–eliminating the need to wait for a technician.
Pre-programmed line settings: When switching between packaging sizes, like pints to quarts to gallons, stored line settings with accurate codes for each type speeds up the changeover process and reduces errors.

ENVIRONMENT

Cold, wet environments characterize dairy manufacturing facilities. Fluid milks and cheeses can perish quickly and require constant refrigeration from the production line to the delivery truck all the way to the grocery store. Mixing and filling stations call for washdown procedures to prevent contamination and create a damp environment for coding and other equipment.

Coding equipment should include the following features to uphold against these environmental factors:

Stainless steel finishes withstand washdown environments better than anondized finishes.
The Linx 8900 Series IP ratings ensure no ingression of moisture into critical parts of the printer and continual reliable printing.
Internal temperature monitoring in the printhead makes the necessary adjustments to maintain ink viscosity–ensuring your code quality is consistent, even if the ambient temperature fluctuates.

We recommend the Linx 8900 Series printers for their reliable performance in dairy processing environments. To further improve your batch and date coding in the dairy industry, we can suggest additional accessories like fork style photocell sensors for the most accurate coding, positive air added in the printer cabinet to protect against contaminants entering system and end coders.

Contact Diagraph today to learn more about how these small character inkjet printers can improve your date and batch coding operation.

Click here to learn what marking & coding solution is right for your dairy application.

Laser marking on nutraceutical products provide robust traceability

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:35:41 GMT

Nutraceuticals are a rapidly expanding market in the United States and the market is expected to continue its growth by more than 8% over the next six years*. Laser coders are an ideal solution for the nutraceuticals market as they provide robust traceability to meet every budget, line speed and substrate material need.

What are Nutraceuticals?

Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources that are reported to provide health benefits in addition to the normal nutritional value found in foods. Some examples of nutraceuticals are natural whole foods, dietary supplements, vitamins, minerals, fortified dairy products, herbal products, milk and cereals. The United States has seen significant growth in products containing CBD and THC following legalization in specific states.

Why do they need marking?

Typically, foods will require a best before and / or a use by date. Batch and traceability codes may also be needed. Direct marking is sometimes required on the surface of THC edible products to provide a warning symbol.

Why are lasers the ideal marking solution for nutraceutical customers?

Some important benefits lasers provide are:

Ability to mark on multiple surfaces (e.g. plastic containers, laminated pouches, glass bottles, etc.)
Marking on individual products on a moving production line or stationary batches of products in trays
Consumables (e.g. inks, solvents, dyes or labels) are not required
Message content, size and style of font and logos are quick and easy to change
A permanent legible mark is generated to help avoid tampering of use by dates and refilling by third parties
Addition of traceability in the event of a product recall
Visible warning indicators are created with non-contact marking on edibles

Contact Diagraph today to discover the benefits Linx Lasers can provide your company.

*Source: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200520005477/en/722-Billion-Nutraceutical-Market-Size-and-Share-Breakdown-by-Product-and-Region---ResearchAndMarkets.com

Increase contract packaging productivity by minimizing equipment interventions

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:49:14 GMT

Marking and coding equipment should help contract packagers improve productivity. Diagraph accomplishes this by keeping equipment intervention requirements for our product identification equipment to a minimum.

We design and manufacture coding and labeling equipment to last longer
We are focused on operator and maintenance team product training
We partner with customers to develop a proactive game plan that keeps their coding and labeling equipment well utilized and appropriately upgrade

Designing Coding and Labeling Equipment to Last

Diagraph’s coding and labeling equipment runs cleaner for longer between required interventions and withstands wear and tear, increasing its useful life. This leads to greater equipment uptime and a stronger return on investment over the life of Diagraph equipment.

The number of steps required for routine interventions as well as the length of time between those interventions is minimized. Product capabilities like automatic printhead cleanings help keep inkjet coders operating with optimal print quality for longer. Examining consumable replenishment practices and centralizing ink refills or providing a quick turn label stock webbing approach makes required interventions quicker and hassle-free.

Finally, quality materials and thoughtful engineering matter when it comes to the longevity of your equipment. Diagraph’s focus on impact resistant designs – whether it be an inkjet coder or a labeler – ensures long-term product reliability.

Setting People Up for Success

After making sure your product coding equipment is properly matched to your application and contract packaging environment, it is essential to make sure your line operators and maintenance staff know how to properly handle and maintain your equipment.

Diagraph’s equipment is designed to have fewer touchpoints to enable hassle-free installation, training and maintenance. These easy access touchpoints minimize the amount of time required and eliminate the need to access the entire system to perform maintenance or changeovers.

Because contract packagers regularly deal with worker turnover challenges, routine training to keep workers knowledgeable and able to be good stewards of your equipment is critical. We offer refresher-level training opportunities with each scheduled service visit from a Diagraph field service engineer. In addition, in-depth training is offered on location or at the Diagraph training facility in St. Charles, Missouri.

Partnering to Develop a Game Plan

Our most successful customers partner with us to regularly evaluate and maintain their coding and labeling equipment. We perform routine equipment assessments, provide regularly scheduled service and develop long-term equipment upgrade plans.

Equipment is kept running longer and the need for unplanned interventions is reduced by staying ahead of wear-caused failures and by properly maintaining equipment. As with all things electro-mechanical, equipment performance will eventually impact production throughputs. We help you navigate the useful life of your equipment to determine when to repair and maintain a system and when to upgrade and benefit from performance and feature enhancements.

By working closely together, our account teams can help you develop a multi-year plan that provides measurable cost savings opportunities due to system efficiency gains and consumable usage optimization. These strategic audits also help customers strategically sequence system upgrades of their older technologies to avoid the sticker shock created if your product identification equipment fails at the same time.

Our goal is to always to make it easy for our customers to make the perfect mark. Find the right product for your application by completing this short assessment.

Call us today at 800.722.1125 to learn more about how Diagraph partners with manufacturers to achieve product identification and packaging compliance success.

Simplify use with one touch product coding solutions

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:29:48 GMT

Many quality equipment manufacturers strive for an easy to use designation. When comparing the ease of use of products, nothing is simpler than distilling a process down to a single step. Diagraph focuses on delivering one touch solutions that make it easy for our customers to make the perfect mark.

When evaluating product coding solutions, it is important to consider the following:

One Touch Consumable Replenishment

Consumable replenishment is the most frequent type of product coding equipment intervention and finding a solution that offers a one touch process saves time, money and keeps work simple for operators.

The simple one touch design on our Linx 8900 Series small character and Thermal Jet high-resolution inkjet coders allows you to open the ink compartment with a simple press of the door. No tools, twisting or turning is required to access the compartments. Fluid cartridges easily slide in and out, with no need to spend time pouring fluids into the printer.

Our high resolution Thermal Jet printers feature easy “snap in/snap out” HP cartridge replacement.

Centralized Ink Management

The Diagraph IJ4000 high-resolution inkjet printer’s centralized ink delivery system provides a single point for fluid monitoring and replenishing. Because the Diagraph IJ4000 can drive up to four individual printheads, this centralized ink delivery system approach eliminates the need to monitor ink levels on individual printheads, guaranteeing that ink won’t run out at different times. Refilling the ink delivery system is also a one step process that can be performed while the printer is still running.

Configurable User Interfaces

Coding equipment that allows for the configuration of operator screens enables manufacturers to put the printer functions most important for day-to-day operations right at their workers’ fingertips. This simplifies print message selection and allows operators to easily access saved printer configurations when preparing for production changeovers.

Interested in learning more about how you can save time and money by upgrading to easier to use product coding equipment? Speak with a Diagraph product identification expert today by calling 1.800.722.1125 or contacting us through the website.

Food, glorious food - the benefits of using Continuous Ink Jet

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:31:52 GMT

2020 will go down in history as a challenging time for food producers. While it is vital that food supplies to supermarkets are uninterrupted and rigorous hygiene is maintained, we should not forget the importance of the printed information that is provided to the consumer when it is on the shelf. There are heavy fines for batch and date codes that do not meet required legislation, and the printed codes must meet stringent traceability requirements should any recall be needed.

What to research

How do you go about ensuring you have the best possible coding equipment for the job in hand? As with any purchase, it always pays to do research and you may want to consider the following:

Substrate – think of the range of different materials on which you will need to print. It’s a good idea to ask for samples coded by the printer you are considering.
Line speed – can the printer keep up with your line speed? If not, what will the degradation be to the code? Also, make sure you future-proof your printer for a potential increase in output. No-one likes to buy twice!
Factory environment – this can be tricky for coding onto food products. You need to ensure your printer and ink can cope with greasy environments, plastic film and the cooking process to name but a few. (Check out our ink blog for the latest ink developments at Linx, specifically developed for the food industry).
Budget – don’t be swayed to purchase based on the printer price alone. Consider the total cost of ownership and factor in reliability–there is nothing more costly than a breakdown and we all know they never occur at a convenient time.

Why Linx is a good choice for the food industry

Linx’s continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers, with a minimum IP55 rating to withstand washdown, are an excellent choice for the food industry. They deliver quality coding with exceptional reliability, ease of use and efficient operations. Simple user interfaces with built-in mistake proofing help keep uptime to a maximum. Touch screens are solvent and alcohol resistant so they can be operated while wearing plastic or rubber gloves, and operators can use hand sanitizers to stay healthy and still operate the printer.

Linx CIJs are the optimum coders for the harsh environment of food production, and reduce stoppages through:

extended service intervals
three monthly printhead cleans
fluid refills during printing and eight-hour fluid reserve

Linx’s extensive experience in the food industry translates into coders that are perfectly suited to challenging environments.

You need to think about your ink

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 15:25:36 GMT

We’ve all been there. Starving at the end of the day and rushing into a supermarket to pick up something to eat. Consumers may give a cursory glance at the best before date on the package to confirm that the item is safe to eat. They give no thought (and why should they) to how much research and development has gone into the ink displaying the information on the package. Not so for those responsible for coding and marking in the food industry.

Advice for food manufacturers

Manufacturers need to understand the complexities and range of ink available and what ink is best for their product, in terms of quality, reliability and budget.

Of course, it’s not just the date code that is printed on food products. Traceability or batch codes, required by law, are also included. Heavy fines can be imposed if the codes are not up to standard–and the monetary and reputational damage to the manufacturer could be extensive.

Linx inks quality & range

Every batch of Linx ink is quality tested to the highest specifications in accordance with ISO 9001. While no one standard ink is applicable for all uses, there are extensive choices available for the food industry. These include inks that are deliver high-quality results and are suitable for printing onto food products themselves, such as eggs and cheese, and specialist inks for printing on the full range of packaging materials from paper labels and cardboard to plastic packaging and bottles.

Inks for harsh environments

Linx inks are suitable for harsh environments, are fade resistant, quick drying and certified food grade. Adherence is key when coding onto polyethylene and other plastic containers, and Linx has an ink that does that with ease. In today’s hygiene conscious production environments, alcohol resistant ink can be used where products and production lines are cleaned down with alcohol-based cleaners.

Inks for retort processes

Linx’s black retort ink is formulated to resist moisture and transference. This ink is ideal for consistent coding through can and pouch retort applications where the contents are cooked in the packaging after they are coded. Another option for the retort processes in food production are thermochromic inks, which undergo a chemically resistant color change when subjected to wet heat conditions to provide a visual indicator that products have undergone the sterilization process.

Black inks for food manufacturing

Linx’s black inks come with a range of options, from fast-drying and able to withstand temperatures up to 400°F, through to oil-penetrating inks which print effectively through light layers of oil onto plastics, metal, glass and waxy surfaces, or where the code will be exposed to oil later in the process. The inks can provide excellent adhesion on flexible food packaging containers even where a light layer of condensation may be present.

There is also a black alcohol-based ink with low odor and good adherence to a range of substrates including most plastics. This ink is ketone and chromium-free, so it meets USDA requirements for incidental contact with meat and poultry. And to ensure producers meet their environmental goals, Linx also provides an array of eco-friendly MEK-free inks.

Linx inks meet food industry requirements

Because Linx’s extensive range of specialist inks are all certified for CIJ printers, you can rest assured your printing will meet legislative requirements in the food industry. And with online or customer service ordering, you will always have the correct ink in stock for your changeover needs.

How to Pick the Best Product Identification Solution

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 16:31:12 GMT

Step one of a manufacturer’s game plan for packaging compliance is to understand your manufacturing code and print application requirements, in order to pick the product identification solution that is best for your needs.

Print Message Requirements

What kind of information needs to be included in your print message? In many cases, especially in food and beverage, consumer-readable information must be included for buyers to determine freshness. In other instances, government and global regulatory agencies have set the requirements for manufacturers to adhere to. In order to meet packaging compliance, manufacturers may need specific product information, manufacturing codes, and barcode information, including:

Product Information
- Product Name
- Product Description
- Quantity/Counts
- Ingredients
- Nutrition Facts Panel
Manufacturing codes
- Batch Code
- Lot Code
- Line Code
- Operator Code
- Date Code – Manufactured On or Expiration Date
Barcode requirements
- EAN/UPC
- 1D
- 2D
- GS1-128
- GTIN-14
- ITF-14
- Other available barcode formats

Once specific print requirements and message placement are determined, manufacturers should also consider their application specifications. What type of packaging substrate does a manufacturer’s product or products use? What other processes in your material handling are occurring to take into consideration? And what kind of line speeds are they trying to achieve?

Application Requirements

It will be important to understand which criteria your application falls under for a marking and coding partner to best match you with a solution that will deliver your desired results.

Packaging Level
- Primary Packaging
- Secondary Retail Ready Packaging
- Case Level Packaging
- Pallet Level Labeling
Product Packaging Substrate
- Glass
- Metal
- Plastic
- Paperboard
- Cardboard
- Shrink wrap
- Other
Integration
- Form fill and seal machines
- Traversing equipment
- Case sealing
- Case gluing
Line Speed and Product Throughput
- How many feet per minute or products per minute do you hope to achieve?
- Under 500 fpm or over 1,000 fpm?
Environment
- Cold or refrigerated facilities
- Hot, humid processing plant
- Dusty environment with debris and other small particles around the conveyor line

After determining the print requirements and application specifications, manufacturers can look at the available product identification solutions and select a technology that is right-sized for their material handling set-up.

Available Product Identification Solutions

A full portfolio range of product identification solutions are available to manufacturers including:

The tables below show how each type of product coding technology is suited to fill specific manufacturer print and application requirements.

In order to achieve packaging compliance, it’s necessary to pick the best marking and coding technology for the product in question. By taking the time to understand print message and application requirements, manufacturers can begin to compare compatible product identification methods and equipment.

Picking the best product identification solution is one step in a multi-step process to achieve packaging compliance. After the information has been applied to your product, message validation is the next step.

Message Validation

Ensuring manufacturing codes are printed on products is not enough by itself to achieve packaging compliance. The codes need to be validated to make sure they are present, accurate, and scannable.

There have been many advancements in product identification and machine visioning technology that have enabled manufacturers to automate the monitoring of real-time print quality. Scanners and vision systems are common components added to the production line postprint to inspect and report any illegible codes or incorrect stock.

Levels of Message Validation

Level 1: Present - Confirm a print occurred on the product without any indication of accuracy
Level 2: Accurate - Confirm a print occurred and it correctly matches the data requested by the printer
Level 3: Scannable - Confirmation that a print occurred, it correctly matches the data requested by the printer and is a scannable, readable mark

Manufacturers know their requirements best, and working with a partner that offers a portfolio of all types of product coding technology will give you a fair assessment of the best solution for your needs. It’s also wise to choose someone who can provide support beyond installation for maintenance and servicing as age and wear and tear occur on your equipment. A reliable partner will also provide training for your maintenance staff should you choose to be as self-sufficient as possible.

However, there are still more steps to ensure manufacturers achieve packaging compliance.

Learn more about the other key considerations Diagraph recommends for guaranteeing packaging compliance:

Discover which Diagraph solution is right for your application by completing our short technology assessment. Click here to complete the assessment.

Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

Tue, 09 Oct 2018 19:04:48 GMT

DOWNTIME

Look for non-contact coders with features focused on maintaining maximum uptime such as:

Self-servicing: For example, Linx 8900 Series continuous inkjet coders can be serviced on the line using the Easi Change Service Module–eliminating the need to wait for a technician.
Pre-programmed line settings: When switching between packaging sizes, like pints to quarts to gallons, stored line settings with accurate codes for each type speeds up the changeover process and reduces errors.

ENVIRONMENT

Coding equipment should include the following features to uphold against these environmental factors:

Stainless steel finishes withstand washdown environments better than anondized finishes.
The Linx 8900 Series IP ratings ensure no ingression of moisture into critical parts of the printer and continual reliable printing.
Internal temperature monitoring in the printhead makes the necessary adjustments to maintain ink viscosity–ensuring your code quality is consistent, even if the ambient temperature fluctuates.

Contact Diagraph today to learn more about how these small character inkjet printers can improve your date and batch coding operation.

Click here to learn what marking & coding solution is right for your dairy application.

Inkjet Printhead Durability Drives Ease of Use

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 01:54:52 GMT

Not all inkjet printheads are created equal. Some printheads are designed to offer superior uptime performance, making them easier to operate and use when coding product. Look for the following features when choosing an inkjet coder, whether it is a small character inkjet coder for printing on primary product packaging or a high resolution large character inkjet coder for printing on cases:

Stainless Steel Construction

Inkjet printheads featuring stainless steel construction and sealed designs withstand wear and tear better than those constructed with plastic. When examining the printhead materials, also look for whether or not wires are exposed during the cleaning process and whether or not printheads allow for adjustments. Exposed wires and printhead adjustments put the printhead at risk of damage, making them less durable and reliable. Opt for an inkjet coder that features a printhead that is durable enough to require no printhead adjustments for long-term ease of use.

Hands Free Cleaning

Inkjet printheads that offer automatic cleaning capabilities allow for less human handling of the equipment, minimizing the opportunity to damage the equipment. Hands free cleaning capabilities also allow for printheads to run cleaner for longer, giving manufacturers as much run-time before interventions are required. The best cleaning systems allow printheads to code onto products without encountering printer faults or degrading code quality, with manufacturers able to run the inkjet coders for weeks and months before manual cleaning of the printheads are required.

Shock Resistant Printheads

Although inkjet coders are considered non-contact coders, it never fails that a product is sent down the packaging line skewed, causing it to come into direct contact with the printhead. When this happens, poorly designed and constructed printheads encounter major issues with internal components falling out of alignment and air pockets being introduced into the ink lines. Well-constructed printheads have potted components that are strong enough to withstand these types of impacts. Some inkjet coders also feature material handling mechanisms that gently guide the printhead away from the product to minimize the impact on the printhead.

Interested in upgrading your inkjet coding technology, but not sure where to start? Speak with a Diagraph product identification expert today by calling 1.800.722.1125 or contacting us through the website.

Key Considerations for Assessing Coding Equipment Uptime

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 01:46:25 GMT

System uptime is the average length of time a piece of equipment runs between interventions are required to keep it operating smoothly. When comparing system uptime when assessing coding equipment, it is important to look at several factors including:

How long a coder can run between consumable replenishment
How long it takes to refresh or restock the coder’s consumable
How long a coder can run between preventive maintenance service intervals

To understand system uptime better, let’s take a closer look at each of these key areas:

Length of time between consumable replenishment

Consumable replenishment is the most common and necessary interaction with any given piece of coding equipment. The amount of time a system can go between consumable replenishment, like adding more ink to an inkjet coder, replacing ribbon stock in a thermal transfer printer, or replacing labeling stock on a labeler largely depends on the capacity of the individual piece of coding equipment. There are additional factors to consider when assessing consumable replenishment.

For inkjet coders, it is important to understand how long a printer can run after the bottle or cartridge of ink has run out of fluids. Does the system provide an advanced notice warning giving a countdown to when the coder will be truly empty? Does it provide enough of a warning that allows for fluids to be replenished at ideal production times like before and after shift changes? Can the fluids be replaced while the system is actively coding?

For thermal transfer printers, ribbon capacity as well as total ribbon usage are important to maximizing the length of time between replacing ribbon stock. For ribbon capacity, look at the maximum size of the ribbon roll for your chosen ribbon type. To maximize ribbon usage, look for thermal transfer printers that offer ribbon saving features that utilize as much surface area of the ribbon before advancing it for ribbon waste collection.

Streamlining consumable replenishment

Although replenish consumables is unavoidable for the most common types of coding equipment, the very act of replacing or replenishing a bottle of ink or solvent, a roll of ribbon, or a roll of label stock can be made easier and less time consuming for system operators.

Inkjet coders tend to be the easiest type of coding equipment when it comes to consumable replenishment since most inkjet coders can keep running while being refilled. Look for inkjet coders that offer mess free, mistake free refill options like needle and septum systems that prevent leakage and dripping when swapping fluid bottles. This is ideal compared to inkjet coders that require fluid bottles to be manually poured into the system. Another factor to consider is how many touches or actions are required to complete the fluid refill process. Look for systems that provide one-touch fluid refill options as well as variations in shapes and sizes between ink and solvent bottles to simplify the process as much as possible while preventing the wrong fluids from going in the wrong compartments.

Due to the nature of thermal transfer printing, the printer will become temporarily unavailable for coding while ribbon stock needs to be replaced. Look for thermal transfer printers that have an easy-to-web design as well as easy to remove and replace ribbon cassettes. Investing in an additional ribbon cassette that can be loaded and ready to go when ribbon is low minimizes downtime on thermal transfer printers as much as possible.

Like thermal transfer printers, automated labelers also become temporarily available for use when label stock needs to be replaced. Look for an automated labeling system that has an easy label webbing design to make it easy to unload spent stock and load a fresh roll. Manufacturers with high production commands benefit from having alternate labeling machines available. When one machine signals that its label stock is low, the other starts applying labels so that the low system can be replaced. This virtually eliminates downtime with automated labelers.

Preventive Maintenance Service Intervals

Although consumable replenishment is required more frequently than maintenance, preventive maintenance procedures take more time to complete and often require the coding equipment to be completely unavailable for printing while being serviced. Not all coding systems are created equal. Service intervals are usually stated in the amount of system hours that can pass before preventive maintenance is required. Things like ink type, manufacturing environment, and overall wear and tear caused by the application can impact recommended system intervals.

For inkjet coders, look for systems that can run as long as a year or more before maintenance is required. Better yet, look for systems that provide advanced warnings about upcoming maintenance so that you can schedule interventions around your production schedule. Another factor to consider is how easy or complicated it is to perform maintenance. Look for systems that have self-contained service modules that can be easily swapped out without the need for a service engineer. Systems that have screen-guided instructions for service interventions tend to be the easiest to use.

For thermal transfer printers, take a look at preventive maintenance requirements that are recommended by the manufacturer. How many parts require replacement? How long does the manufacturer state it will take to perform maintenance? How easy is it to access parts that need to be replaced? These are all important questions to ask when evaluating thermal transfer printers.

When it comes to automated labeling systems, all-electric systems allow you to replace wear parts while relying on pre-programmed settings to get the labeler operating as quickly as possible. Pneumatically operated labeling systems require extensive adjustments after replacing wear parts, making maintenance interventions anything but fast. Also look for labeling systems that offer screen-guided instructions for quick and simple service interventions. Another advantage of all-electric labeling systems over pneumatic is that electric options allow for a gentler application of the label to the substrate. This cuts down on overall wear and tear, allowing the system to go for longer between maintenance intervals.

If you have any questions about how to calculate the uptime of your current coding equipment compared to new coding equipment technology, we are here to help. Contact a Diagraph product identification expert today by calling 1.800.722.1125 or contacting us through our website.

Top Recommended Inks for Inkjet Coding in the Dairy Industry

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 19:41:31 GMT

No one wants to risk their health or the health of their family by bringing home dairy products with indistinguishable expiration dates. Regardless if your dairy plant produces fluid milk, cheese, yogurt or ice cream, if your product does not have a legible expiration date on it, chances are your product will remain on grocer’s shelves but too many instances of poor quality codes will put the dairy processors relationship with the grocer at risk.

Non-contact coders such as the Linx 8900 Series continuous inkjet (CIJ) are an ideal choice for dairy packaging as it allows high speed printing of variable information on a variety of substrates such as PET bottles, foil sealed cups and resealable pouches. The printer is built for harsh industrial environments with refrigeration and washdown requirements. It has a completely sealed printhead and solid stainless steel construction.

Linx 8900 Series printers are right at home in dairies, but how do you ensure your code adhesion and readability? Linx offers a variety of functional coding inks. Here are our top 5 recommended inks designed to meet the performance needs of dairy products.

Fast Dry Durable Inks:

1240 Black Fast Dry MEK - This is our most extensively used Methyl Ethyl Ketone based ink. It dries in 1-2 seconds and provides stable performance within the printer and excellent adhesion on many substrates including a wide range of plastics (PE, PET, Polypropylene).

3103 Black Non-MEK - Many companies are tasked to diminish or eliminate the amount of MEK products on site. For those customers we suggest the mixed base of Ethanol and Acetone ink. This ink has strong performance on a wide variety of substrates and is designed to have a drying time and adherence profile like MEK based inks.

Ink to Withstand Post-Mark Water Bath:

1010 Black General Purpose MEK - Some dairy products, notably cottage cheese, have a post-fill and -mark process whereby the product enters a water bath. The 1010 Black General Purpose MEK was initially designed to meet canning requirements and has superior adhesion in moist, steamy or wet post-mark applications.

Refrigeration or Grease Penetrating Inks:

1055 Black Wet Process - This ink can be applied through a thin layer of moisture. It is water resistant when dry making it an outstanding selection for cold fill and frozen food applications, also products that are soaked or rinsed following coding.

1063 Black Grease Penetrating Ink - This is another ink that has excellent performance in the presence of moisture. Designed for food applications where the code is exposed to oil later in the process it has a high quality mark, aggressive adhesion and a 1-2 second dry time.

Not sure which ink type is right for your coding application? Contact Diagraph today to learn more about our Linx ink selection and to request print samples for your diary product coding application. Call 1.800.722.1125 or contact us through the website.

How to Reduce Marking Mistakes and Ensure Proper Code Adhesion

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 17:09:21 GMT

What does your company do when products are marked with the wrong product identification codes? Scrap? Rework? Mismarked and mislabeled products can create big hits to the bottom line. When encountering marking mistakes with regularity, companies can find it difficult to keep profit margins under control. What’s worse is if mismarked or mislabeled products make it out to market, manufacturers can face penalties from retailers and the risk of product recalls.

There are several factors to consider when trying to reduce marking mistakes:

Coding Technology

The first step to reducing marking mistakes is picking the right coding technology for both your application and your manufacturing environment. When choosing a technology, some factors to consider include:

Packaging design and material
Code contrast requirements
Content of print message or label format
Proficiency of available labor
Production throughput and cost requirements

Available coding technologies include inkjet coders, labelers,thermal transfer printers, and laser coders. Each of these technologies have their merits and should be considered carefully with the help of experts familiar with the advantages and disadvantages. Success will be realized when the best technology is chosen for your unique situation.

Ink, Label, Ribbon Match

Choosing the right technology often comes down to identifying the best possible combination of cost-per-mark and mark adhesion quality. There are numerous inks, label stock types, and ribbon formulations that can help you achieve a durable, lasting code on your product.

If you are marking onto a particularly tricky surface or operating your equipment in a hotter or cooler than average environment, you will want to run code adhesion tests and even demo the full solution for a period of time to ensure that code adhesion is strong once a mark is applied to your product packaging. A quality supplier will be able to run print samples and set you up with trials of their equipment.

Material Handling Before Product Coding

Although choosing the right equipment and matching it with the right ink, label or ribbon is important, an often-overlooked aspect of achieving code compliance is material handling. Heavy vibrations in your production line and skewed products that are not presenting well to the coding technology can impact the overall quality of your mark.

Reviewing your material handling practices and making recommendations for the best use of your equipment is vital to achieving high quality marks on your products.

Verification and Validation

You can take your coding and labeling operation a step closer to guaranteed compliance by adopting a product verification or validation step after the mark has been applied to your product. There are several levels of verification that ensure that a mark:

has been successfully applied to the product
matches the mark that you requested be printed
is completely readable

Verification and validation require the use of scanners or vision systems as well as connectivity to your coding equipment and product databases.

Material Handling After Verification

When incorporating a verification or validation step into your coding and labeling operation, you will need some form of reactive material handling after verification takes place if a printed mark is considered to be illegible. When manufacturers encounter poor code quality, a signal can be triggered to stop the production line altogether to correct what is causing the poor print or a reject and redirect action can take place to separate the questionable product from the rest of production. If too many poor quality codes are encountered, production can be stopped to allow for a remedy.

Having issues with achieving packaging compliance and encountering too many marking mistakes? At Diagraph, we can help you quantify the true cost hitting your bottom line and will work with you to develop a game plan to minimize errors and ensure proper code adhesion.

Call us today at 800.722.1125 to learn more about how Diagraph partners with manufacturers to achieve product identification and packaging compliance success.

Is a Product Identification Site Audit Right for Your Facility?

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 16:03:22 GMT

If you haven’t had a top-to-bottom review of your coding and labeling operations within the past 5 to 10 years, you are probably overdue for a comprehensive product identification site audit. Technological advancements have allowed for manufacturers to achieve greater efficiencies and accuracy with their product coding efforts for all levels of packaging – from primary products all the way to pallet level labeling.

Diagraph can take the guess work out of coding and labeling operational best practices by offering free comprehensive site audits. We make a series of recommendations that span anywhere from making modifications to current equipment or practices for enhanced productivity to the complete retooling of your product identification operation to help you achieve your production and packaging compliance goals.

Our site audits include a close review of the following key areas:

Productivity and condition of existing equipment
- Is your equipment performing to its fullest capacity?
- Is your equipment a proper match for your product coding application/goals?
- Are there any modifications or maintenance actions that can be taken to achieve full-productivity?
- How much remaining useful life is estimated for each piece of equipment?
Proficiency of machine operators
- Are there any bottlenecks or workarounds regularly encountered by your team?
- Are there system features that are not being utilized that could improve efficiencies?
- Could your production team benefit from higher-level user training?
Maintenance team strategy
- Are your preventive maintenance intervals ideal for your manufacturing environment?
- Do you have everything you need to quickly overcome unexpected downtime?
- Could your maintenance team benefit from higher-level equipment maintenance training?

After reviewing these key areas and other aspects of your packaging compliance requirements, we provide a site audit report with simple recommendations that you can implement immediately as well as bigger picture recommendations that can be implemented overtime with planning and support. At Diagraph, our goal is to make it easy for our customers to achieve the perfect mark on their products. Regular site audits and account reviews are just one of the ways we work in partnership with our customers.

Call us today at 800.722.1125 to learn more about how Diagraph partners with manufacturers to achieve product identification and packaging compliance success.

Marking 125 Years in Business with Special Customer Savings at PACK EXPO International

Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:23:26 GMT

2018 marks Diagraph’s 125^th anniversary in business and we’re inviting the industry to celebrate this momentous occasion with us at PACK EXPO International in Chicago. Diagraph is exhibiting at booth N-5721 with our full line-up of product solutions including small character inkjet, high-resolution inkjet case coders, all-electric labelers and thermal transfer overprinters. Come visit us and discover our new initiatives designed to make product identification easy for our customers. The show begins in Chicago on Sunday, October 14 and runs through Wednesday, October 17.

Visitors to have their badges scanned in the Diagraph booth will be eligible to take advantage of our exclusive show specials that run through the duration of 2018. Don't miss out on our best promotions of the year!

Linx 8900 Series Bundle Package

Buy a Linx 8900 Series small character continuous inkjet printer at more than 30% off and receive a free photocell and trolley stand. Over $4,000 in savings!

Why the Linx 8900 Series small character inkjet?

The hermetically sealed stainless steel printhead runs clean for up to 100 starts and stops
Self-service design with an all-in-one service module and guided on-screen instructions
Perfect for building a spare printer inventory with the longest extended shutdown interval in the industry

Double Your Print Area Deal

Get an Diagraph IJ768E ACS high resolution inkjet printhead for the price of the Diagraph IJ384E 2” printhead and double your available print height to accommodate larger, more complex case coding messages. Plus, when you purchase one day of installation and training, you’ll receive an extra day of installation and training at no charge.

Why the IJ768E high-resolution inkjet printheads?

Rugged design, stainless steel orifice plate protects electronics and printheads from shock, vibration and chemical contaminants
Repairable printheads last up to 10 years in the field
Double the available print area to accommodate larger, more complex messages

“All In” Labeling Deal

Buy any standard fullprint and apply labeler or tamp label applicator system and get all recommended accessories, installation and training for free.

Why the PA6000 print and apply labeler or LA4750 label applicator?

Auto-retract sensors recognize any variations in product height
Gentle tamp labeling onto each product limits the wear and tear of the actuator arm
Label present sensors tell the actuator arm to tamp gently onto each product only when label is fed from the roll, meaning no rework from missing labels
Comes with 3 recommended sensors, warning tower, adjustable T-base stand, discrete I/O

TTO Combo Deal

Buy one thermal transfer printer (excluding the MLi) and get a spare printhead and ribbon starter pack for free.

Why take advantage of this deal for your NGT Series or Allen XL5000 purchase?

Spare printhead for peace of mind
Complimentary ribbon to substrate matching service to build the starter ribbon pack for each system (6 rolls, must be formula we stock so a compatible match to all substrates is not guaranteed)

These offers are exclusive to visitors to the Diagraph booth N-5721 in PACK EXPO Chicago that have their badges scanned! Whether you are in need of an upgrade to your coding and labeling operations or looking to begin automating, this is a great opportunity to level-up your operational efficiencies for a great value.

Diagraph's Blog

Overcoming the daily challenges of pigmented ink printing

Using pigmented ink offers some benefits as well.

INTRODUCING THE LINX 8940 SPECTRUM

Achieve Consistent And Unmatched Print Quality With Superior Print Head Design

Is training production line workers creating a challenge? No problem!

Managing end-of-line coding needs while facing rising costs and tighter budgets

Critical Ways CIJ Printers Are The Right Technology For Your Small Character Application

SPEED

THROW DISTANCE

Ink for CIJ Printers

Ink for CIJ Printers

Diagraph offers the 1088 Yellow Bottling Pigmented Ink for the Linx 89xx Series printers designed for use in harsh manufacturing environments.

Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

DOWNTIME

ENVIRONMENT

Laser marking on nutraceutical products provide robust traceability

What are Nutraceuticals?

Why do they need marking?

Why are lasers the ideal marking solution for nutraceutical customers?

Increase contract packaging productivity by minimizing equipment interventions

Designing Coding and Labeling Equipment to Last

Setting People Up for Success

Partnering to Develop a Game Plan

Simplify use with one touch product coding solutions

One Touch Consumable Replenishment

Centralized Ink Management

Configurable User Interfaces

Food, glorious food - the benefits of using Continuous Ink Jet

You need to think about your ink

How to Pick the Best Product Identification Solution

Print Message Requirements

Application Requirements

Available Product Identification Solutions

Message Validation

Levels of Message Validation

Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

DOWNTIME

ENVIRONMENT

Inkjet Printhead Durability Drives Ease of Use

Stainless Steel Construction

Hands Free Cleaning

Shock Resistant Printheads

Key Considerations for Assessing Coding Equipment Uptime

Length of time between consumable replenishment

Streamlining consumable replenishment

Preventive Maintenance Service Intervals

Top Recommended Inks for Inkjet Coding in the Dairy Industry

Fast Dry Durable Inks:

Ink to Withstand Post-Mark Water Bath:

Refrigeration or Grease Penetrating Inks:

How to Reduce Marking Mistakes and Ensure Proper Code Adhesion

Coding Technology

Ink, Label, Ribbon Match

Material Handling Before Product Coding

Verification and Validation

Material Handling After Verification

Is a Product Identification Site Audit Right for Your Facility?

Productivity and condition of existing equipment

Proficiency of machine operators

Maintenance team strategy

Marking 125 Years in Business with Special Customer Savings at PACK EXPO International

Linx 8900 Series Bundle Package

Double Your Print Area Deal

“All In” Labeling Deal

TTO Combo Deal

Haven't registered to attend Pack Expo International yet? You can follow this link and use the 32K59 comp code to get free registration on Diagraph.