Industrial Printing, Marking and Coding Insights | Diagraph Blog
Create Config
Edit Name Description Configiration Type Type

Diagraph's Blog

rss

Diagraphs Blog covers the latest in coding and labeling products


And our message to our Beer customers this week is… Wait, What?
Coding on cans is a necessary part of the distribution process and Continuous Inkjet Printing (CIJ) is the best fit technology for this coding requirement.
All-Electric Labeller Utilizes Smart Sensing Technology to Maximize Reliability
Diagraph recently launched the LA/4750 – a servomotor-controlled label applicator system featuring enhanced smart sensing technology.
Enhancing Quality Control with Linx 8900 Series CIJ Printers
Warning tower for Linx 8900 CIJ printer
Manufacturers across various industries rely on small character continuous inkjet (CIJ) printers to print essential variable information such as date codes, batch codes, logos and weights on a diverse range of products and substrates.
The Art of Automatic Label Dispensing
There is an art to automatic label dispensing. Have you mastered it? Read more to see if your line has mastered the art of automatic label dispensing.
Maintaining the Highest Print Quality
You’ve purchased your ink jet coder, had it installed on your production line and are printing text, logos or barcodes onto your secondary corrugated cartons. The image is of high quality and you need it to stay that way
Where's My Code?
An unobtrusive and effective way to track products from production to market is with the addition of secure coding.
It's Positive
Many companies have the need to mark discrete variable information such as lot codes and expiration dates on their products. One of the best solutions available to address this need is Continuous Ink Jet printers (CIJ). CIJ offers non-contact high speed coding with immediate dry times resulting from the solvent based inks that are used.
Comparing Pneumatic and Electric Label Printer Applicators
Diagraph’s E-Series labelers are considered the simplest, most reliable all-electric labeling solutions in the industry today thanks to years of continuous improvement and innovation. Our entire line up of Diagraph E-Series print and apply and automated label applicator systems build upon the durability of the proven Diagraph Platinum Series design, yet incorporate key electronic enhancements that allow it to perform more consistently and reliably over time.
Variable Coding Ready to Eat Meals with Inkjet
Although laws vary by state and only baby formula has a federal regulation on “Use By”, “Sell By” or “Best Before” date coding, consumers look for this information before making a purchase. Continuous Inkjet Printing (CIJ) is often the preferred method to achieve date coding. Continuous Inkjet offers high-speed, non-contact marking using solvent based inks to print variable information on a wide variety of substrates.
A Look at Laser Coder Power Ratings
Here are some straight forward concepts to keep in mind with laser coding and power ratings.
Reason Manufacturers Moving From Automated Air Labelers
Plant managers and maintenance managers alike are deserting pneumatically driven label applicators in favor of all-electric label applicators for one BIG reason.
Analog Hot Stamp Printing vs. Digital Thermal Transfer Printing
Many marking and coding equipment sellers espouse the virtues of thermal transfer overprinters (TTO) over the capabilities of hot stamp coders. As a manufacturer of both thermal transfer and hot stamp technologies, we are here to tell you that there is room for both. The truth is that each technology excels for very different reasons.
5 Things to Consider When Choosing Ink Jet Inks
Ink Jet printing enables variable information to be printed on multiple substrates including uncoated and coated corrugated cartons, gypsum, PVC piping, lumber and other materials. When choosing the ink to jet from your ink jet five criteria should be considered:
Print directly onto flexible packaging
The Norwood XL Series thermal transfer printers are ideal for emerging markets and manufacturers just getting started with variable printing.
Improve Efficiency with the Linx 8900
The all new Linx 8900 was a hit during its debut at Pack Expo Las Vegas! Visitors loved the simple one-touch fluid refill design, the enhanced user interface paired with the large touch screen, the engineer-free self service module, and, of course, the industry leading reliability that comes with the Linx printhead.
How to Increase CIJ Coder Reliability and Uptime
Do your inkjet printheads need to be cleaned more than once a month? How often do you find yourself waiting on a service visit for routine maintenance? Do you throw away partially full fluid containers, or worse yet, do empty ink cartridges interrupt your production? These are all common issues that eat away at your production time and your bottom line.
Pack Expo Delivers
See what you can gain by attending Pack Expo Las Vegas...there is no shortage of ideas, solutions, and innovations on the show floor.
What is a hot stamp machine?
Hot stamp machines utilize simple and reliable mechanical technology. Hot stamp printing is a process in which heated type is pressed firmly against the item you are printing with a ribbon/foil between.
Making the Perfect Mark with a Laser
To avoid smeared, smudged and illegible date and lot codes, turn to the high print quality made possible from today’s scribing lasers.
SMART CODER TECHNOLOGY EXTENDS CIJ CAPABILITIES
Diagraph recently launched the Linx 8900 – a next generation CIJ (continuous ink jet) printer featuring an error-free user interface and smart productivity reporting functionality. The printer is designed to maximize efficiencies during production, delivering valuable cost and time savings.
Choosing the Right Label Adhesive -- A Comparison
How to choose the right adhesive for primary product and case coding labels. A comprehensive look at 7 adhesives and their purposes.
Top 10 Tips for Finding Your Ideal Confectionery Coder
Specify Alternate Text
Consider these factors when searching for coding equipment for the confectionery industry.
Meeting 24/7 Production Line Requirements
How to cut costs, keep your line moving and get coding you can count on for round the clock production
Product Coding in the Presence of Chemicals
A common challenge when coding in the presence of chemicals is the reaction of coding ink to the product, process or environment. Marks can smear, bleed or disappear entirely.
Power Efficiency Can Save More Than Just A Few Pennies
Not all Label Applicators are created equal and the savings when operating a power efficient unit adds up.
FSMA Site Inspections Start in 2016
The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 gives the FDA broad powers to closely inspect food manufacturers and enforce strict traceability standards across the industry. Legally mandated facility inspections will start in 2016.
Seasonal Coding Tips for Confectioners
Many manufacturers in food processing and consumer goods experience seasonal fluctuations in demand. As a result, their production must ramp up and down throughout the course of the year. Should their product require variable coding such as batch codes and date codes, these companies often make use of Continuous Inkjet (CIJ) coding technology.
6 Factors to Consider when Choosing a Coding Solution for the Meat Processing Industry
Specify Alternate Text
Compare different technologies and their strengths in meat processing applications
Thermal Transfer Printhead Technologies in Print and Apply Labeling
There are two common types of thermal transfer (TT) printheads in industrial print and apply labeling systems. One version is the Flat Head TT type, which has a relatively parallel contact between the heating elements of the printhead and the ribbon/label. The other is a Near-Edge TT type, which angles the head up to 45 degrees. There are advantages and disadvantages to these two types of technologies.
Analogue Vs. Digital Product Coding
A review of analogue and digital product coding in the meat packing industry. Do hot stamp users really need to make the switch to a digital coding solution? The answer may surprise you.
Meat Traceability: Marking & Coding Considerations
While the utmost care is taken to ensure that meat for human consumption is processed in hygienic environments, the law requires that meat packs are coded for traceability purposes; partly with the aim of enabling the consumer to have greater confidence in the food on their plate.
Reliable Coding in Refrigerated Meat Plants
As in many industries, traceability and expiration dates are required for their products, but successfully executing this coding is a challenge because many meat packing plants run 24/7 in an extremely cold, damp and humid environment. This combination of environmental factors is hard on all marking and coding equipment.
Understanding the Expected Cost of Operations
Specify Alternate Text
Ever wonder what you spend on parts to keep your marking and coding equipment running? Even more importantly, do you know what you should be spending? We all know that maintenance isn’t free and everything with a moving part wears out sooner or later, but few really understand the expected cost of their application.
Effective Case Coding in Adverse Plant Environments
Specify Alternate Text
Case coding would be so be simple if all factories were at ideal temperature, all flooring and transports were flat; there were no space limitations and all boxes were perfectly square. But that’s typically not the case. Diagraph offers four options to make their large character Impulse Ink Jet case coder flexible and capable of printing under adverse conditions.
Looking to Increase Productivity?
Specify Alternate Text
Diagraph's customer, ITW Shakeproof needed to find a method for increasing productivity while reducing packaging line concerns regarding safety. Read more on how Diagraph's solution provided a reduction in overtime and safety concerns.
Case Coding - 5 Keys to Optimize Reliability
Specify Alternate Text
Today, many companies take advantage of the benefits of inkjet printing of barcodes, graphics and text directly onto secondary packages. Inkjet printing can cost up to eight times less than labels. At the same time having an inkjet printer on the factory floor allows for greater printing flexibility and requires less space than an inventory of assorted pre-printed secondary packages. Stainless steel construction, automatic maintenance, a repairable design, demonstrated long lifetime and quality ink compatibility are five key elements to look for in an inkjet printhead.
Perfect Codes for Personal Care Products
Specify Alternate Text
Image is everything in the Personal Care industry and the companies producing cosmetics, toiletries, home fragrance and the like will spend a lot of time, energy and money in making sure their products look good. But regulations often require variable information such as expiration dates and batch codes to be added to the packaging. The required codes are usually designed to be discrete to help maintain a quality product image, but must be indelible, easily legible and visible. As a result, coding is an essential element in creating perfect packaging for personal care products.
Choosing the Best Dairy Coding Solution
Specify Alternate Text
Find the right coding/marking solution for your dairy production operation.
Are label feeding issues giving you problems?
Helpful hints when dealing with Label feeding issues with your printer applicators on your production line.
Shopping for a new case coder? Three factors to consider other than price…
Determining case coding costs is more involved than simply locating the sticker price. As it is, we are all prone to compare purchase prices and lean towards the least expensive model. However, when shopping for any case coding ink jet printer, there are three main factors you want to keep in mind.
Need an automated Pallet coding solution?
Specify Alternate Text
The American Lumber Standard Committee recently imposed a regulation on companies that produce heat-treated pallets. This regulation forces pallet manufacturers to mark each pallet with the IPPC HT logo. Diagraph has an automated pallet coding solution.
The Linx 5900
Specify Alternate Text
The Linx 5900 has been designed to provide maximum flexibility and consistently reliable coding, and offers the lowest maintenance costs for this type of printer along with extended service intervals of up to 6,000 hours.
Diagraph… Delivering Innovative Solutions that You Inspired!
Specify Alternate Text
Diagraph’s IV12 dot print head offers up to ½” print height with speeds, ink types and capabilities to handle a wide variety of coding applications.
The HST (High Speed Tamp)
Specify Alternate Text
The HST (High Speed Tamp) is the newest application module in the Diagraph line-up that directly addresses the challenges of the sustainable packaging. It’s unique pivoting design allows for the contouring of irregular surfaces at speeds up to 300 FPM.
NEW! Diagraph LINX 7900 Sets the Standard for Continuous Ink Jet
Specify Alternate Text
Diagraph is pleased to introduce the LINX7900 Continuous Ink Jet Coder. Read more here.
Diagraph Introduces LINX CJ400 Continuous Ink Jet Coder
Diagraph is pleased to introduce the LINX CJ400 Continuous Ink Jet Coder. This CIJ coder offers a radically new design and has been developed to be easy-to-use, provide maximum reliability and save money.
E-Tamp Blow All-Electric Printers/Apply Labeler
Diagraph is pleased to introduce the E-Series Tamp Blow All-Electric Print/Apply Labeler. This “tamp blow” module adds to the innovative and highly successful E-Series labeler, which uses no compressed air and has digital controls for precise and accurate label placement and high repeatability.
Diagraph's Sustainability Initiatives
Diagraph has created a brochure on our Sustainability initiatives. Find description and link to this brochure here.
Power Efficiency can save more than just a few pennies! Not all Label Applicators are created equal- White Paper
For more information on power efficiency and Automated Labeling Products visit www.diagraph.com or call 1-800-722-1125.

Featured Posts

  • Overcoming the daily challenges of pigmented ink printing Posted 5 months ago
    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.
  • Avoid Labeling Mistakes by Removing Plant Air Posted last year
    All-electric label applicators revolutionize the packaging industry by eliminating the reliance on plant air, providing precise applicator control for consistent and accurate label placement and ensuring secure label control for various label sizes.
  • Is training production line workers creating a challenge? No problem!  Posted 7 years ago
    Companies rely on engineers or technicians to keep production lines up and running. These job functions are essential to hitting production targets, so it is key that their skill level on equipment is proficient. When making the decision to replace this equipment, the amount of time and money that will have to be invested in training your labor is a major deciding factor.
  • Don’t let fast drying ink slow down your CIJ coding process Posted last year
    Continuous inkjet printers (CIJ) use super-fast drying solvent-based inks. One of the technology challenges presented by these inks is that they aren’t too particular wherethey dry. With CIJ technology, the formation of drops from an inkjet stream creates a mist (or satellite drops) which builds up a layer of ink over time on the components inside the CIJ print head, causing print failure. Routine cleaning of ink with solvent from the components in a print head is required to maintain best print quality and uptime.
  • How do I get labels to stick in hot and humid environments? Posted 4 years ago
    Something to be aware of when considering using labeling for product identification in a hot or humid environment is that labels are sensitive to temperature, making facility environment temperature a determining factor in choosing what label material to use on a product.  
Read More »