Inkjet coding and marking solutions for bottles, cans and beverage cartons
Best before date, batch number, ingredients, reusable or disposable labeling: the beverage industry has to apply numerous markings to ensure consumer safety and the correct disposal of packaging. Our inkjet coding and marking systems do this efficiently and reliably.
Direct marking of reusable packaging
INKJET MARKING IN THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY
Whether a bottle or can is thrown away as disposable packaging or put back into circulation in a reusable system has a significant influence on the marking process. In the case of reusable beverage packaging, for example, the marking must not be permanent: it has to be completely removed in the cleaning system. This is why inkjet marking is a good option for reusable bottles. Food-approved and FDA-compliant inks are available for this, which are completely removed after bottle cleaning. The German Packaging Act regulates exactly how disposable and reusable packaging has to be marked.
What is important for inkjet coding and marking solutions?
- Reliable operation in industrial production
- Simple integration into filling systems
- Completely removable marking for returnable bottles
- Food-approved inks
- Legal requirements such as VerpackG, European Packaging Directive 94/62/EC, Food Information Regulation (LMIV) (EU) No. 1169/2011, Lot Marking Regulation (LKV)
Inkjet printing systems can be seamlessly integrated into bottling lines for non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer. Both ink and laser marking systems can be seamlessly integrated into bottling lines for non-alcoholic beverages, wine and beer. On the one hand, it is important that they are designed for the high production speeds of the machines. Even with up to 100,000 bottles filled per day, the often small and multi-line codes still have to be printed precisely and be clearly readable. On the other hand, the production environment in the beverage industry is often humid. When drinks are cold-filled, condensation forms on the glass and some bottles are immersed in ice water. Juices, soft drinks and energy drinks are often pasteurized after printing and therefore come into contact with moisture. For this reason, the printing systems themselves should have splash protection(protecion class IP65). The inks used in inkjet systems also have to dry fast and be resistant to heat and moisture.
Industrial inkjet coding and marking solutions are used throughout the beverage, beer and wine industry. A wide variety of bottles, cans, barrels and canisters are marked with codes and markings.
Application examples for beverage labeling
- Beverage barrel marking with continuous inkjet
- Marking of crown caps with thermal inkjet printers (TIJ)
- Coding of plastic, metal and aluminum lids with thermal inkjet printers (TIJ) and continuos inkjet printers (CIJ)
- Marking of aluminum cans with continuous inkjet printers (CIJ)
- Direct marking of secondary packaging such as cartons, cardboard boxes, trays and shrink films with piezo inkjet printers (PIJ) and thermal inkjet printers (TIJ)
- Marking on the bottle neck with variable data
- Colored contrast printing on dark substrates
Discover the various application possibilities of our industrial inkjet coding and marking solutions. They enable process reliability, automation and consumer safety in the beverage industry.
According to §32 of the German Packaging Act (VerpackG), all drinks packaging has to be clearly marked with the words EINWEG or MEHRWEG, at least in the same size as the price label. This does not apply to sparkling wine, wine, juices and packaging with a capacity of more than three liters.
The EU directive standardizes the disposal of packaging across Europe and aims to reduce the impact of packaging and packaging waste on the environment. In Germany, it is implemented by the Packaging Act.
The EU regulation regulates which information must be provided on drinks packaging: List of ingredients, best before date, net quantity, alcohol content in percent by volume (%vol) if greater than 1.2 %vol, caffeine content for energy drinks (not for coffee and tea).
In the LKV, the Federal Ministry of Health has stipulated that only foodstuffs with a batch number consisting of letters, numbers or letters and numbers may be put into circulation in Germany. This allows them to be clearly assigned to a production batch.
