Bag marking of bulk goods

Heavy duty and suitable for industrial use

Industries and products

Bag marking has to be fast and reliable without compromising on the print quality of the marking. This is because bag marking of bulk goods often takes place under harsh and adverse technical conditions. High dust pollution, temperature fluctuations or vibrations are the rule rather than the exception. High-contrast and optimally readable print results can be easily achieved here despite the harsh environmental conditions. In productions with little dust pollution, even high-resolution print results with 1D and 2D Codes, for example, can be produced.

Bulk goods include the following industries and products:

• Building materials industry: sand, gravel, cement, gypsum, concrete mix, crushed stone, chippings, powder coatings, ceramic powder, granulates, lime
• Food industry: flour, grain, sugar, salt, starch, coffee, food additives, seeds, rice, baking raw materials, food powders, tea, spices, malt
• Paper industry: starch
• Chemical industry: pigments, fillers, granulates, fertilizers, chemicals, starch, sulphur, sodium, calcium, talc, powder, plastic powder
• Animal feed industry: pellets, mineral feed, pet food

Print distances, guide rail, distance compensation

How are bags of bulk goods marked?

In the majority of cases, marking takes place after the product has been filled into the bags or pouches. The bags move on conveyor belts and the marking is applied directly to the bags from above or from the side. The challenge with bag marking from the side is to ensure an even print area and the correct distance to the print head. This is achieved by guiding the product correctly using a guide rail. Alternatively, the assembly of a distance leveling device can be used, which follows the contour of the bag and thus compensates for different bag sizes.

If, on the other hand, the marking takes place before the bags or pouches are filled, dust pollution generally plays a subordinate role. This also enables high-resolution printing results to be achieved. Information such as barcodes or Data Matrix codes can then be easily printed directly onto the bags. Alternatively, labels can be applied by blowing, suction or rolling.

You have to print information such as

• Best before date
• Production date
• Filling date
• Batch numbers
• Shift codes
• 1D Codes
• 2D Codes
• Weight codes
• UFI code
• Unique Device Identification (UDI)

Suitable coding and marking systems for bulk goods

Fast, robust, reliable

The conditions under which the marking has to take place, whether the marking takes place before or after filling and which print result is to be achieved - these are the requirements to be defined for a coding and marking system. Suitable REA Coding and Marking Systems are:

REA JET DOD 2.0 - Large Character Inkjet Printer:

• Use under the most difficult environmental conditions
• Robust, reliable print heads
• Large print images
• Can be used regardless of material
• For filled and unfilled bags, pouches and big packs
• Modular design for individual configuration
• Large selection of inks

REA JET High Resolution Inkjet Printer:

• High resolution marking for optimum readability and code quality
• Can be used regardless of material
• For filled and unfilled bags, pouches and bags
• Large selection of inks
• Maintenance-free
• A new print head with every cartridge change
• Bulk system for low ink costs with high throughput

REA JET GK 2.0 - High Resolution Inkjet Printer:

• High resolution marking
• Suitable for unfilled, empty bags
• Sharp-edged marking on absorbent surfaces
• Cascading of multiple print heads for large print images

REA LABEL - Labeling technology:

• Labeling of plastic and paper bags
• Suitable for unfilled and filled bags
• Modular design for individualization
• Offers great scope for individual and application-related design of the system