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Explore our wide range of industrial printing and labeling systems that help you mark, code, and label your products, packaging, and pallets. Our line of industrial inkjet printers and labeling solutions help optimize your production line. Learn more today.
Find a solution that is ideal for your manufacturing environment, packaging substrate, code durability requirements and regulatory guidelines. Ensure maximum uptime for your coding operation by using our industrial marking equipment. Diagraph has partnered with companies across many industries including food, beverage and industrial products.
Your single source provider of coding, marking and industrial labeling solutions, Diagraph is committed to providing unparalleled service and support. Diagraph is committed to providing valued business partners with a superior level of technical service and support well-beyond product implementation.
Diagraph began serving the marking and coding industry over 130 years ago and became part of the Illinois Tool Works (ITW) family of companies in 2001. Diagraph engineers build products to help keep your production line moving, so you can get products identified and out the door quickly and efficiently.
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By Jen Arnold, Hot Stamp Account Manager
Hot stamp machines or imprinters, often referred to as hot foil coders, 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. The ribbon/foil transfers pigment from a polyester carrier onto the product. It can produce a high quality, permanent smudge-resistant mark. Hot stamp machines are typically used to mark non-variable codes such as date codes, lot numbers, expiration dates and product codes on labels or packaging.
Hot stamp coders feature engraved or cast type characters, dies or wheel numbering units – typically made out of metal or silicone. To change the code, the machine operator must manually change the type characters or slugs. This is a relatively easy task and can be easily achieved with basic training.
To make the mark, the block of characters/logo is heated and then stamped down by means of pneumatic air pressure. The raised surface of the characters makes contact with the pigmented foil/ribbon, pressing it onto the surface of the substrate. The result is a clean code.
This technology is considered extremely durable and reliable. Blocks of characters can last for tens of thousands of impressions over the course of many years. Hot stamp machines offer a clean and simple coding solution; the technology is widely used throughout the food and pharmaceutical industry. Hot stamp coders are also ideal for dusty and sticky manufacturing environments which are considered challenging for delicate non-contact inkjet coders.
Hot stamping machines also integrate nicely with reel fed labeling or packaging machines.