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• Thermal Transfer Printhead Technologies in Print and Apply Labeling

  Thermal Transfer Printhead Technologies in Print and Apply Labeling

  By Steve Dods, Automated Labeling Products (ALP) and Thermal Transfer Overprinter (TTO) Products Manager

  
  

  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, which is why both existing in industrial printing.

  Printer Types	OEM industrial print engines, such as SATO and Zebra	Labeling system manufacturer's proprietary printer (VideoJet) and TTO (Thermal Transfer Overprinters)
  Life	Typically 5 million lineal inches, with proper cleaning and care	Typically 2.5 million lineal inches, with proper cleaning and care
  Price (4" wide)	Around $450 to $700	Around $1000 to $1300
  Speed	Up to 16 inches per second	Up to 19.7 inches per second
  Consumable Cost (600m Ribbon)	$15 to $20 per roll, Wax, Wax Resin, or Resin	$23 to $30 per roll, Wax Resin or Resin only
  Material Thickness	Head mount adjustments required	Less or no adjustment required

   

  Near edge TT print heads are optimal for high-speed printing on surfaces that may have some variances, like film webs. They are mainly seen in these applications, where the alternative technology is ink jet or laser. Flat head technology is ideal for longer life, lower consumable cost, and lower overall replacement cost. As with most competing technologies, it comes down to the application requirements. For print and apply applications, the reliable and less expensive selection has been the venerable Flat Head TT print head. 

  
  

  For more information on print and apply applications click here.  Or contact us at 800.722.1125.

   

• Is An All-Inclusive Service Agreement Right For You?

  

  All-inclusive service agreements have their perks:

  • The cost of the agreement over the lifetime of the agreement is predictable.
  • Maintenance is guaranteed, so you know your equipment will be consistently running at peak performance.
  • All repairs are covered, giving you peace-of-mind that if anything goes wrong, you know exactly who and how it will be fixed.

  But how do you know if an all-inclusive service agreement is right for your facility?

  There are several factors to consider, including:

  1. Maintenance Team Availability -- Even the most skilled maintenance teams can opt for an all-inclusive service agreement if they do not have enough time to make sure coding and labeling equipment is running properly and continues to be serviced well. We find that manufacturers with complicated processing equipment often prefer to leave the servicing of add-on equipment like inkjet coders, labelers, laser coders, and TTO printers to 3^rd party service technicians so that they can focus exclusively on capital intensive equipment.
  2. Manufacturing Environment – Manufacturers with challenging production environments – like ones with heavy washdown procedures, high dust or other particulate matter in the air, high temperatures, low temperatures, large temperature swings due to no climate control in the manufacturing area, and high humidity – often choose an all-inclusive service agreement. These environments require a higher level of maintenance actions for nearly all equipment, making a guaranteed service agreement that covers nearly all “what ifs” an attractive option.
  3. Maintenance Budgets – Some manufacturers prefer to know exactly what they are spending to maintain their equipment throughout the year. All-inclusive service agreements cover both proactive service visits that are designed to keep your equipment running at peak performance as well as unexpected service visits for when equipment encounters some form of electro-mechanical failure. When budgets are tight or inflexible, all-inclusive agreements inject the highest level of predictability into a maintenance budget.

   

  At Diagraph, we offer our Premier Service Program to deliver predictable on-going service and maintenance costs even when customers are faced with worst-case scenarios. All repair costs, including parts and labor, are covered by the program. The program package is purchased for a specified number of years at the time of purchasing the equipment. The cost of the program can be paid entirely upfront or can be broken out over a series of months when bundled into an equipment leasing package.

  Interested in purchasing Diagraph coding and labeling equipment with Premier Service Program coverage? Speak with a Diagraph representative today by calling 1.800.722.1125 or contacting us through the website.

• Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

  

  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. 

• Top Considerations When Selecting Coding Equipment In The Dairy Industry

  

  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. 

• Choosing the Right Label Adhesive -- A Comparison

  By Steve Dods, Automated Labeling Products (ALP) and Thermal Transfer Overprinter (TTO) Products Manager

   

  Have you ever purchased an item from the store, and later at home wondered why they used a label that doesn't easily come off of your new item? Have you seen labels that are hardly attached to the side of an item at Home Depot and wonder how many of those labels never even made the trip to the destination store? Well, you are not alone, sadly, and the better question is how much is that adding cost in the supply chain or turning off customers? Now that sticker wisdom can be found in a simple table below:

  
  

  BEST (ADHESIVE) PRACTICES FOR STICKERS (WE CALL THEM LABELS!)
  Adhesive Type	Purpose	What to Know	Where Used
  All-Temp	Multi-purpose adhesive Most common Good initial tack Strong long term bond	Best on room temperature products Not easily removed Cost effective	Corrugated Cases Pallets Primary product marketing label
  Cold-Temp	Designed to bond to refrigerated products	Label must be room-temp to have activate adhesive - product will be cold Label will be a heavier weight - may require additional labeler system set up specifics Label rolls should be stored at room temperature - heating device needed on label roll in point of use area	Refrigerated products, such as ice cream containers, dairy, meat processed cases
  Wet-Stick	Designed with adhesive that compensates for wet surfaces	Air-knives to clear as much water as possible recommended Full label apply pressure is required to allow the adhesive to operate correctly - direct contact, not blow methods, required here for auto apply	Bottling / Jars
  Tire Adhesive	Surfaces that contain voids, may be dusty, and have curvature	Very heavy adhesive that generally does not do well with paper label substrates Synthetic label materials generally used	Tires
  Removable	Can be removed from some surfaces	Very important to test target products for initial and long term adhesion	Consumer goods
  Ultra-Removable	Can be removed from most surfaces, even after long term bonding	Great for label on glass screens, plastics, metals, and other end consumer products where the label is only informational	Electronic Products, Medical
  Soak and Remove	Adhesive is designed for water solubility	Used in track and trace applications for reusable totes and containers	Fruit, vegetable, and nut case-level packaging

  Learn more about automated labeling technology and the benefits of all-electric machines versus pneumatic.

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

  

   

  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.

  Contact us to find out more about Linx 8900 Series continuous inkjet printers.